A Veteran's Journey

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

1. Who said, “The meaning of life is to give life meaning.”?
2. In what movie (and who said it) did we hear, “Just keep swimming.”?
3. Who sang (and what song) did we hear the following:
   It could happen to you, just like it happened to me
   There’s simply no immunity, there’s no guarantee

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Thanks to those who commented on my previous blog, “#62—Flight Deck Shenanigans.” Several comments were spot on and reminded me of things I’d forgotten. Here are a few more shared “memories:”

• “People were convinced there were never any shenanigans on the flight deck. Boy, were they wrong.”
• “I used to go up to the crow’s nest for some air and to watch ‘cats and traps.’ Quite magnificent. Even with earplugs and ‘mickey mouse’ ears over them, though, the noise would go right through your head.”
• “Watched a lot of flight ops from Vulture’s Row. Whenever the F-14’s kicked in the afterburner just before launch, it seemed like the whole island would shake.”
• “I guess I really do miss the flight deck.”

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In the Navy (and I’m sure the same goes for my Army, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard veteran friends), “last call” usually meant you were at the bar until closing time, around 2am in the states. Of course, in the mid-70s & on Westpac ’75, closing time in PI was 11:30ish, since there was a midnight curfew.

Of course, it could also mean you overstayed your welcome at the in-laws.

I was aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), an aircraft carrier from ’75-77 and worked on the flight deck in V-1 Division. It’s been 45 years and things are probably different nowadays. The times may have changed, but I’m willing to bet sailors today still close the bars down, whether here in the good ol’ USA or overseas.

I can honestly tell you I heard that phrase in every port I visited while aboard USS Kitty Hawk.

I heard “last call” many times in some ports, like PI (The Philippines, our forward deployment port @ Country Caravan), San Diego (our home port @ Westerner Bar), and of course, Bremerton (the shipyards @ Bill’s Inn).

We were only in Hong Kong for six days, even though it was “max liberty,” meaning you didn’t need to be aboard unless you had duty. And, similarly in Japan, though “Thieves Alley” was quite precarious, if memory serves.

Reflections… in Past Years

Back during my “working-man” days, I’d often spend the time between Christmas and New Year’s “reflecting.” Not “full-time” reflecting, mind you, but because I normally had that week off, well… it was also a good time to “work stuff out.”

Did I meet my “goals” during the year, both professional and personal? What projects did I complete & which ones were still left? And for the coming year, what do I want to accomplish in my career? For example, I’d ask myself if I was happy in my current job, should I be further along in my career, or is the writing on the wall and should I look for another position?

Even though I’m an Electronics Engineer (BSEE, ME) by education & experience, I spent most of my professional “career” as a legal technology consultant. I was fortunate enough to work with more than 350 law firms of varying sizes and practice types all over the country during that journey.

Along the way, I wrote a couple of business books regarding legal technology and made more than 250 speeches in my 25-year career. It helped that I owned my own company. Yes, I also experienced many “lean” years, like most small startups and small businesses.

No complaints, though, because toward the end of my consulting years, one of my former clients hired me as their CIO (Chief Information Officer). Following that 4-year gig, I was also involved in a software startup. Those were two of my “lofty” goals I’d set early in my career.

I also wrote two military history books: one regarding my dad’s WWII experience (You Can’t Get Much Closer Than This—Combat with the 80th ‘Blue Ridge’ Division World War II Europe) and one about my time in the US Navy (Three Years, Eleven Months, & 29 Days—But Who’s Counting). Both were rewarding for me personally.

It’s slightly different when you’re retired (I just turned 66 this year). The paths and journeys are now different. But some are still more “challenging” than others.

One day I’ll write about my “Medicare Journey.” That was fun, but I don’t want to spoil the story… yet.

The Last Blog of the Year

This will be the last “A Veteran’s Journey” post for the year 2020.

I began writing this blog in November 2019 and last month, wrote about the “statistics,” if you want to call it: #56—Veteran’s Day & Happy 1st Anniversary.

As I mentioned in that post, this weekly blog helps me keep my sanity in these challenging times. From the feedback I receive (thanks very much), I believe it brings back some positive/reflective memories for many veteran friends who have also experienced “life’s journeys.”

I’ve reconnected with old shipmates. I’ve helped shipmates connect with other shipmates. Some of my memories struck a chord. And several times, shipmates who encountered the same event I wrote about helped to fill in the blanks with their own unique perspective.

All in all, I’m having fun with this blog. I’ve still got a lot more left in me.

What Will 2021 Bring?

Next week this time, it will be a new year: 2021.

This week (between Christmas and New Year’s), I’ve spent a little time reflecting (old habits die hard). The “career” thing is long-gone and I have no need to worry about that anymore.

Even though I’m retired, I still think about what I want to accomplish this coming year. I’ve got several “goals,” but then I’ve learned that life sometimes sneaks up on you and your goals tend to change. “Go with the flow,” my mom used to say.

First, my wife and I want to visit our kids and grandkids. It’s been way too long and they’re scattered in different parts of the country.

Our son and family are in San Diego; he’s a UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface—yes, I had to look that one up, too) computer game designer. He’s the one who heard me say many times, “Last call: turn that computer off and go outside and play with your friends. You’ll never make a living playing computer games.” Well… guess what? He certainly proved me wrong. He and his lovely wife have two boys—our grandsons.

While we talk with the grandsons several times a week on video (thank you, technology), it’s obviously not the same. Anyone else feel that way?

But then one of the “silver linings” of this COVID crisis is that we talk with them regularly. I’ve learned to look for little “nuggets of normalcy” during these times.

Tied with that, we want to visit our daughter and her husband in Cleveland. She grew up reading a lot of books and playing outside in the dirt (sometimes joined by her brother). It’s not a surprise that she’s an academic in Classical Studies: a university professor. Her husband is, too. And this year, she just finishing writing her first (of many?) text book.

Next, time for us to travel again, both here & abroad. I know we’ll get to it; we’re just not sure when, but we’re planning on it sometime in 2021. Anyone else?

I also plan to continue writing A Veteran’s Journey. It’s fun and brings back a lot of memories. It’s extremely rewarding and as I’ve said many times, it helps keep me sane, off the streets, and out of the bars. Besides, I like to write. Isn’t it obvious?

And don’t worry, I have a plethora of ideas (over 60 untapped topics, at last count) that I plan to write about: Navy & Army journeys, and perhaps a firefighter story or two. The ideas keep flowing.

NEVER FORGET

I’ve also been working on a book for the past two years. Even though I’ve written several books, both professional and military, they’re non fiction. I wanted to try my hand at something different. And since I’m retired, I’ve got the time.

This is my first novel: NEVER FORGET.

In 2001, Vietnam War veteran Tom Reilly lives with a haunted past he has tried to forget. His father, Ed, has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Though they have not spoken for years, Tom visits Ed at a retirement community for the first time in 25 years—the fighting continues, but the healing begins.

Tom has tried to live a simple life. After the tragic death of his wife years earlier, he is left to raise his son alone. Chris has never met his grandfather. Yet, when the three of them meet, Chris and Ed form a unique bond, helping Tom better understand his own father. Chris interviews Ed for a high school history project and, while listening to his father answer questions about WWII, Tom internalizes his own answers about Vietnam. They dare to compare their wars and hear each other’s combat stories for the first time.

Ed knows there isn’t much time left to repair what was broken between them. With the help of a resident psychologist and an aide in the memory unit—both with deep, personal connections to Vietnam—Ed encourages Tom to begin the difficult journey of healing and forgiveness. The question is, can they resolve their differences before it’s too late—for both of them?

This is NOT a story about combat. It’s about overcoming personal conflicts caused by a war. NEVER FORGET reflects upon our current society of an older generation (WWII), aging baby boomers (Vietnam), and the current generation (global terrorism). It brings together multiple facets of dementia and survivor’s guilt in a moving story of personal struggles and growing relationships. It is “A Veteran’s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness.”

A Question for YOU:

I plan to self-publish NEVER FORGET in the not-too-distant future (end of January 2021, perhaps?). That usually means I can make it available in different formats and on several platforms.

For print, it will be paperback (no surprise there). But because it’s print, there will be a cost (somebody has to pay for the paper). I don’t know the price yet. But I know I’ll make it affordable.

I’ll also publish it in eBook format (also, no surprise).

In some cases, I plan to offer the book at no cost (you read that right—FREE). I’m currently trying to figure out how to make that happen. I believe it’s fairly easy to offer the eBook version at no cost on several different platforms.

I can probably offer it through my blog, too.

QUESTION: I’m still working on the details, but what would be the easiest way to get this book to you, assuming you’re interested? Let me know in the COMMENTS section.

Wrapping up this #&*!! year, 2020

2020 has been one hell of a year for everyone. I personally know some folks are hurting more than others. It’s been a struggle for many, and I think most of us would agree with that. Hopefully, 2021 will be a better year for us all. As we often say in Gator football country, “Maybe next year!”

My dad served in the 80th Infantry Division during WWII. His division’s motto was (and still is): “Only Moves Forward.” I think about that almost every day—we have to keep moving forward. That’s how we get through this pandemic. It’s become my daily mantra.

Having said that, this year has also brought out several social media “wise-ass” comments, some more humorous than others. Here’s a list of my favorite end of the year thoughts:

• You realize that on January 1, 2021, we can honestly say “We all have 20-20 hindsight.”
• You think 2020 was bad. Just think about next year, when it turns “21.”
• At the beginning of the year, I had a 2020 “Bucket list,” just like everyone else. But somewhere during the summer, I decided to change the “B” to an “F” and said, “I’m done!” (Jerry Seinfeld).

Until we meet again,
Andy

Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (’73-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran’s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE copy HERE.

Previous posts mentioned in this blog:

• #62—Flight Deck Shenanigans
• #20—Port Call: Philippines
• #30—USS Kitty Hawk @ Bremerton Shipyards, Part 1
• #43—Port Call: Hong Kong
• #23—Rough Seas – Sea of Japan
• #56—Veteran’s Day & Happy 1st Anniversary

Answers

1. Viktor E. Frankl.
2. Finding Nemo (2003), Dori (Ellen DeGeneres).
3. Brand New Day (1999), Sting; written by Gordon Sumner.