A Veteran's Journey

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

1. Who said, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”?
2. In what movie (and who said it) did we hear, “What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?”?
3. In what song (and who sang it) did we hear:
   Crawlin’ through the trees
   Stuck in mud up to the knees
   Fightin’ this damn war
   Wonderin’ if the Lord knows what it’s for

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I joined the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’d spent a year in college (Florida State University), but… flunked out. While my enlistment was for only four years, I still felt like I’d “seen the world” and experienced many noble traditions that I continue to honor today.

As a Navy veteran, I periodically reflect upon my “short” military career and think of many good times, a few not-so-good times, and often wonder—sometimes out loud—“How in the hell did I ever survive?”

Anyone else?

Today’s post is more about the confidence I gained during my time in the Navy, how it helped me during my follow-on career(s) and journeys, and the fact… I thought I’d heard it all.

Brief Backstory—Legal Technology Career

After I left the Navy in July 1977, I returned to school and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Florida and worked a few years as an engineer. I went back to school to get another degree.

I graduated with a Masters of Engineering degree from UF in 1989. It was a bittersweet time for me… while I worked hard to get that second diploma, my dad had died two months before graduation. But I thank the good Lord that we could be back in Gainesville during his last year.

After dad died, I felt a need to remain in Gainesville—my mother was now without her lifelong partner.

Long story short, there weren’t any engineering jobs per se in Gainesville, so I started a computer consulting business, working with lawyers—my father was a long-time lawyer in Gainesville and my uncle was a Florida State Supreme Court Justice, so the “name thing” worked.

I gave myself six months to see if a) I liked it and b) if I could make it a business.

This was back in the late 80s, when lawyers first began to use computers, install local area networks, and WordPerfect for DOS was the reigning king of word processors. I came in at the right time and right place. Sure, I made a few mistakes along the way, but I must’ve been doing something right, because it worked.

It was the right decision at the right time (fate?). After 30 years of working with law firms, legal departments, law schools, and government agencies, and… software companies, I finally retired… it took me three times, but I’m now finally retired.

And… there are a plethora of “interesting” stories to share. Here’s a sample…

Life as a Technology Consultant—Usernames & Passwords

Back in the old days of DOS and early installations of local area networks, we required law firm employees to log into their computer with a unique username and password—not much different from today. Except the login parameters back then weren’t as strict as they are now.

Keep in mind, the Internet as we know it today didn’t exist, and no outside connection to the real-world. And no, there wasn’t even external email. In other words, there were far fewer security risks and privacy concerns.

… In the Navy

When I was in the Navy in the mid-70s, we literally stenciled our “username” on every piece of uniform we owned, folded, & stowed away in our lockers… including our skivvies. Socks were optional, since when at sea, we tied our socks to the belt loops on our trousers before sending to the ship’s laundry. But I digress…

Our passwords were the various Master Lock combination codes used to lock our multiple lockers: for me, 2 in my Kitty Hawk bunk (back then, we didn’t have the “coffin style” lockers), one on my personal dress blues locker, and one on my V-1 Division/Crash compartment locker.

And, if memory serves, we weren’t “forced” to change our “passwords” every 90 days like IT recommends now—the locks were “hard-coded.”

BTW—I still have at least two of my Navy Master Locks and… they still work. Now, if only I could remember the combination codes. But I digress…

… In a Law Firm

In the early 90s, a small Personal Injury law firm in central Florida hired me as a technology consultant to help them transition from stand-alone computers to a full-fledged Novell local area network.

One attorney (male) and six secretaries (all female). They’re now called legal assistants, but I’m sticking with the terminology used back then. I’m sure someone—my sister, my daughter, my wife and all their female friends will correct me.

One day, we were all gathered around a conference table and I briefly explained the setup and the expected changes to their current technologies and routines. When we began the discussion about the new LAN and the reason for usernames and passwords, I simply explained to them to pick something they’d easily remember—perhaps a word that might match their personality.

This wasn’t my first LAN “rodeo.” I’d had this type of discussion many times before and heard all the “why do we have to change” arguments before.

I also told them not to use proper names, kids’ or parents’ names, dogs/cats’ names, or personal dates like birthdays or anniversaries. Those were too easy to “match” with the individual user.

And to be safe… don’t write your username and password down on a “sticky note” and place it on the monitor or hide it under the keyboard—that’s the first place thieves typically looked when they wanted to get into your computer.

BTW—that hasn’t changed.

As an example, I suggested using their First initial Last name and choose a password that fit’s their personality. I told them I’d choose aadkins for my username and “gators” as my password. Simple, and something easy to remember.

We started with the attorney, a successful businessman and lawyer. He was middle-aged and full of lawyer confidence, salt & pepper hair, nice coat & tie, and horn-rimmed glasses, similar to what my dad wore.

He responded almost immediately using his deep and commanding voice—he didn’t even need to think about it—with his password: “shark.” That got a chuckle from the group, and rightly so.

Then we moved on to the secretaries/legal assistants. I thought I’d heard it all, but I was about to be surprised… yet again.

… I Shoulda Known Better

First up was a middle-aged secretary, kind of a quiet individual, but with kind eyes and a warm smile. She chose “kindness.” A wave of “awes” echoed through the room.

Next up was a younger secretary, friendly and chatty, and wearing a low-cut button floral blouse. I only mention this because she would not be outdone by “kindness.” She chose her password as “sexy.” Out of the corner of my eye I could see the attorney’s wry-smile. He musta been thinking, “cute, but I’m not going there.”

The next three secretaries had heard the initial few password choices and decided they’d be neutral. “Spring,” “Alpine,” and “Venice.” All good and I told them so.

Next up was the oldest, most senior secretary I’d ever met. In the back of my mind, I thought she’d worked for Perry Mason or Atticus Finch at one time or another.

You know her type… she’d much prefer an IBM Selectric III typewriter to a dazzling new-fangled computer with a confusing keyboard (“what are these F1-F12 keys on the left side; why is there a separate number keypad on the right side?”).

Yeah, I’m that old…

Her stare was icy, almost like her blue-gray hair. She had thin pursed lips and said nothing—her stare would easily motivate everyone else in the room.

To tell you the truth, she was somewhat intimidating. But then, I’d spent time in the Navy… and drove Crash fire trucks… on the flight deck… of an aircraft carrier.

I had the confidence of a veteran, but I almost lost it when she stared straight at me with her dark brown eyes and a unibrow and stated in her smoke-gravelly voice with the confidence of a combat veteran: “I choose my password to be NOBULLSHIT.”

And… I swear she said “IN ALL CAPS” before I could makcomment.

I don’t know about you, but her demeanor reminded me of a couple of Senior Chiefs and “wanna-be” Senior Chiefs I worked with in the Navy.

“Personality passwords.” I think I’ll leave that one right there.

Until we meet again,
Andy

Answers

1. Allen Saunders. Most people think it was John Lennon, but the quote is attributed to Allen Saunders, 1957.
2. No Country for Old Men (2007), Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem).
3. Back to the World (1973), Curtis Mayfield; written by Curtis Mayfield.

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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.