A Veteran's Journey

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

1. Who said, “If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”?
2. In what movie (and who said it) did we hear, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”?
3. In what song (and who sang it) did we hear the following?
   No is the saddest experience you’ll ever know
   Yes, it’s the saddest experience you’ll ever know
   ‘Cause one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do

Thanks to those who commented on my previous blog, #73—Boot Camp: “Hello Dollys” and Other Things I Can’t Forget. Several comments were spot on and reminded me of things I’d forgotten. Here’s a few more shared “memories:”

• “Your narrative is off the charts good. For me, it was 10 weeks of pure hell but it laid the foundation for a successful life.”
• “I was there the same time. Your blog is on point about the boot camp experience.”
• “Spot on account of boot camp. It was the same in San Diego. I was in boot camp there at the same time. September to November 1973, and in the first brigade there to get the new uniforms.”
• “I’m sure glad we went back to the crackerjacks. I couldn’t stand that combination cap and uniform.”
• “I was issued the ‘new’ suit in boot (Jan ’74). Got out of boot camp and started hunting down a REAL uniform. There were NONE to be found… every piece had been sold as folks scrambled to avoid the awful new uniform!! Went home on leave and talked to the folks at the local theater group and was allowed to sort through their ‘costumes’ and pick out a REALLY nice jumper and a pair of 13-button trousers. (South Pacific was one of their productions) With these in hand, I found a tailor who re-piped the jumper and fitted the uniform to my strapping (and thin) young body. FINALLY I looked like a sailor!”

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I hang out with a lot of veterans… or at least I did before COVID. Now, we periodically get together (usually outside), but with social distancing, masks, etc.—you know… “the drill.” Not as much as we used to, but sharing these challenging times with friends and fellow veterans helps to pass the time and provides us with a few “nuggets of normalcy,” as I like to call them.

During one of my recent “bull” sessions with a couple of Navy vets, we got onto the topic of spit shining “techniques”—I have no clue why or how, but it involved drinking—and one thing led to another, which led to another, which led to… my latest blog.

My dad fought in WWII in Europe. I’ve written several blogs about his time in war as well as a book: You Can’t Get Much Closer Than This: Combat with the 80th “Blue Ridge” Division in World War II Europe. I tell you this to let you know I’m a “Baby Boomer,” a child of the 60s, a Vietnam-Era veteran, and a whole slew of other unmentionable terms that might make a sailor blush.

Those Early “Spit Shining” Days

Back when I was growing up in the 60s and old enough to buy a pack of chewing gum for a nickel (YES, that’s 5 cents), I needed a way to earn money to support that habit.

My dad was a lawyer and wore suits, ties, and… dress shoes. He’d been in the Army and had done his share of shining shoes. Now, with a pre-teen son, he had someone else to do it for him. Ten cents per pair of shoes, but only if I did a good job. Of course, part of this was to teach me: a) how to earn money and b) how to spend it.

Naturally, I took the opportunity when he asked. After all, polishing one pair of shoes equaled two packs of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum.

Then… my Uncle Jimmy Adkins, also a lawyer, became a Florida Supreme Court justice. When he visited the house, he gave me 25c to shine his shoes, but he only had one pair when he visited. That was good enough for me, though. I was on my way to becoming rich.

I knew nothing about spit shining. Back then, I used the standard KIWI “light brown” shoe polish, let it dry for a few minutes, then brush with a shoe brush. If I wanted them to really shine, I’d give it a rubdown using a cloth.

I got pretty good at it, too. While my piggy bank didn’t overflow, it certainly got some use. That “time in my life” shortly ended, though, when I began to collect baseball cards and needed more money; another addiction as a young child. But then again, a 5-pack of baseball cards also came with its own stick of gum.

But I digress…

Boot Camp–The “Navy Way”

Within a few days of arriving at Boot Camp, the Navy issued us a complete set of uniforms, including a pair of “boondockers.” If you don’t know, those are ankle-high boots. But even brand-spankin’ new, you’d surely fail a uniform inspection because you couldn’t see your reflection on the top of the boot.

Boy, was I in for a treat.

All of us quickly learned how to “properly” shine our boondockers.

It wasn’t the same as earning 10c or 25c, but it kept us busy and after a while—I know this sounds weird—it actually helped lower the stress level of another fine day in the Navy.

I mean, face it… you’re with a few of your good boot camp buddies, in the smoking room (back in the 70s, we had a room in the barracks specific for smoking), shooting the bull, and all the while, polishing your boots. It was, in a word… relaxing.

Spit Shining DEFCON Levels

Of course, we had different “DEFCON” levels for shining our boondockers in boot camp. Allow me to elaborate…

DEFCON level 4—this was a quickie, just to buff our boots up a tad. It only took a few minutes to get a shine good enough to get through the next day. Usually, we accomplished this with an old pair of skivvies and a brush, and most of us did it right before we hit the rack at Taps.

DEFCON level 3—it took us a little longer to shine and, at this level, involved a little “spit” (yes, you heard that right; that’s why they call it “spit shining”). And, if you wanted to give it a little extra shine, you learned to use cotton balls.

DEFCON level 2—this took the longest, and after flowing through “spit shine” DEFCON levels 4 and 3, DEFCON level 2 required the use of a lighter. Back then, butane lighters hadn’t been invented, so if you were a smoker, most everyone had a Zippo lighter. We’d go to DEFCON level 2 when we had an inspection the next morning and it didn’t matter if you wore your boondockers or your dress shoes, they needed to “shine.”

And that, my friends, is how we spit shined in the Navy during Boot Camp.

Before you ask… no, we never got to DEFCON level 1. I don’t even know what that requirement would be unless it was a visit from the President of the United States. Oh wait… I think that happened aboard Kitty Hawk, but a few years before I arrived.

Active Duty–BS Sessions

When I launched out into the real Navy, my first duty station was NAS Agana, Guam. I worked with the Crash & Rescue Division, 24 hours on and 24 hours off… for 15 months. Great duty station and an awesome place to work.

We still needed to maintain a respectable appearance, but it wasn’t as hard-lined as boot camp. Yet, I still polished my boondockers with a group of friends, usually BS’ing about nothing important, but it was relaxing and helped pass the time. When you’re on-duty, there was no drinking. However, off-duty often found us with mirror-finished boots.

When I arrived aboard Kitty Hawk, I wore my boot camp issued boondockers my first few times out on the flight deck. But I also noticed most of those on the flight deck wore high tops. That’s what I wanted.

First paycheck back in San Diego/North Island port, I headed to the Navy PX to purchase my first pair of flight deck boots-about $25 back then. They were the most comfortable pair of shoes/boots I’d ever worn in my life. And when you spend 16-18 hours a day on the flight deck during flight ops while at sea, you need that comfort, even when you’re only 20 years old.

And yes, we still sat around the berthing compartment, polishing our flight deck boots; not because it was required, but because it was a way to pass time and BS with your buddies.

One thing I learned early on: beer doesn’t help the shine, but it helps with how the shine looks to you.

After the Navy–Ya Can’t Polish Sneakers

With the exception of getting married, I don’t think I’ve polished a pair of shoes since I left the Navy in 1977. One reason is that when I began my career as a technology consultant and spent many hours on my feet at conferences, I learned sneakers were far more comfortable than dress shoes.

The only exception—thanks to my lovely wife of 40 years—was when we’d attend a “Black Tie” affair. I purchased the most uncomfortable pair of black patent leather shoes on the face of the planet. As my daughter-in-law often says, “Not a fan!” But it also made for a shorter evening <grin>.

Black sneakers with either a charcoal gray or navy blue suit worked fine for me for 25+ years.

Now retired, I may reminisce about spit shining from time to time, but honestly, I don’t wear dress shoes anymore, even to church. If I need to “dress up,” I’ll wear my black sneakers.

Besides, at my age, no one cares…

My COVID “Spit Shining” Relief

I miss some of the old days, sitting around with a group of buddies, talking about nothing in particular, but passing the time. And yes, even those “spit shining” BS’ing times.

But in these days and challenging times of COVID, I found an “outlet.”

I write… this weekly blog (A Veteran’s Journey) helps keep me sane; it also keeps me off the streets at night. But over the past year, I also wrote a book that I’ve mentioned off and on in my blog.

I finally published it.

And before I get too far, let me also tell you it’s FREE FOR VETERANS to download in PDF or eBook format. Actually, until I can figure out a way to limit the downloads, it’s free for anyone. The link is below and there are no “gotchas” or “sign up for this” crap–the only thing is that I use a Captcha to keep the nasty Internet ‘bots away.

Honestly, I’m giving the book away for FREE because… well, why not?

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NEVER FORGET

Let me introduce you to my debut novel, NEVER FORGET.

The time is spring 2001; the setting is northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. I chose that region because I lived up there for several years and loved the area. While the characters are fictional, several events mentioned (WWII and the Vietnam War) are historically accurate.

Tom Reilly is a Vietnam War Army veteran and a single parent to his teenage son, Chris. He received 2 Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star Medal for action that cost his best buddy his life. He’s tried to put those memories behind him.

Ed Reilly, Tom’s father, is a World War II veteran. He also received 2 PHs and a BSM. He proudly displays his medals on his “Me wall.” Tom buried his in the bottom of a desk drawer.

They haven’t spoken for years after a major “falling out” after Tom returned home from Vietnam. They didn’t see eye-to-eye on the war.

Recently diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimer’s, Ed reaches out to Tom. After more than 25 years, Tom visits his father in a nursing home: 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 the Vietnam War—Ed encourages Tom to begin the arduous journey of healing and forgiveness.

The question is, can they resolve their differences before it’s too late—for both of them?

NEVER FORGET is a work of fiction and a multi-generational father, son, and grandson novel about WWII and Vietnam. It is not about combat; it is about overcoming personal conflicts caused by a war. The story 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 & Alzheimer’s and PTSD & Survivor’s Guilt in a moving, character-driven story of personal struggles and growing relationships.

And that’s my current “journey.” I hope you enjoy NEVER FORGET, my gift to all veterans.

Here’s the link for your FREE download.

Stay safe, my friends.

Until we meet again,
Andy

Previous posts mentioned in this blog:

• #73—Boot Camp: “Hello Dollys” and Other Things I Can’t Forget
• #4—From Civilian to US Navy
• #53—You Always Remember Your First…
• #10—You Light ’em, We Fight ’em

Answers

1. Toni Morrison.
2. The Godfather (1972), Don Corleone (Marlon Brando).
3. One (1968), Three Dog Night; written by Harry Nilsson.