#170—An Honor and a Privilege

Andy Adkins

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

  1. Who said, “Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.”?
  2. In what movie did we hear, “I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed, animal-food-trough wiper. I fart in your general direction.”?
  3. Who sang (and name the title) the following?
    Mother, mother
    There’s too many of you crying
    Brother, brother, brother
    There’s far too many of you dying

This year marks the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. My father-in-law, Dr. Rufus K. Broadaway, dropped into Normandy with the 82nd Airborne Division. My father, A. Z. Adkins, Jr., landed on Utah Beach the first week in August with the 80th Infantry Division and fought across Europe.

Both came home after the war. A lot of men didn’t.

But know that there are many (MANY) celebrations happening all over Europe this year and next… remembering those who helped to liberate their towns, cities, countries.

They will NEVER FORGET!

I didn’t follow in my dad’s footsteps. Instead of the Army, I chose the Navy, serving two duty stations from ’73-77. I’ll spare you the details, but since I’d flunked out of college after a year at Florida State University, I didn’t have a clue what to do with my life.

So… I joined the Navy.

Even though I had registered for the draft, I wasn’t drafted into the military—I enlisted. I believe the last “draft call” was in December 1972.

But this was also during the Vietnam War.

USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 underway Western Pacific 29 November 1970
USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63. November 1970.
(Official US Navy Photo)

I never stepped foot in Vietnam, like many of my veteran friends. The closest I came was when USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) cruised through the South China Sea during Westpac ’75. I worked on the aircraft carrier flight deck as a Crash & Salvage crew member and later, after the ’76 Bremerton Shipyards period, I transferred to a Yellow Shirt Director.

“Thank you for your service”

In my last blog post, Military Ball Caps and… Rocks, I mentioned that many times while wearing my Kitty Hawk ball cap, people often say, “Thank you for your service.” It’s never bothered me one way or another. But I know some veterans don’t necessarily like the phrase.

When I came home in July 1977 after being discharged, I was a proud veteran (still am) and enjoyed the time I’d spent in the Navy. I was certainly more mature (I joined when I was 18 years old). While there were some days better than others, I tend to remember the good times and the men I served with, both while at NAS Agana, Guam and aboard Kitty Hawk.

NAS Agana, Guam (1974); Glenn Law, John O'Mara, Gary Cuzner (R.I.P.), Andy Adkins
NAS Agana, Guam (1974); Glenn Law, John O’Mara, Gary Cuzner (R.I.P.), Andy Adkins

The thing is… that phrase, “Thank you for your service,” wasn’t commonplace until the Global War on Terror.

I can’t remember what people said to veterans back in the 70s when I left the service. For me, if I knew a person was a veteran—it didn’t matter if s/he was Navy, Army, Marine, Air Force, or Coast Guard—they got higher marks in my mind.

Years later, when I assumed the role of an IT Director or a CIO (Chief Information Officer) and needed to expand my team, I paid closer attention to the experience of men and women who had served.

It may have been a bit biased on my part, but since I was the HMFIC (Head Mother **** in Charge), I made the decisions, although not everyone I hired was a veteran. If they’d committed time to serve our country, I wanted to know a little more about what they did.

In fact, when I was the CIO for a large law firm in West Virginia, I interviewed folks for a manager position. One applicant was a former Marine—served 10 years. His job was demolitions. I was so intrigued that I spent more time listening to his stories in the Marines than I did about his experience in IT.

I hired him and he helped me build out a Support Team we needed in the firm, since the firm had grown significantly with attorneys, staff, and physical offices. I just laid out my vision, we brainstormed how to make it work and what he needed. After that, he made it happen. That made my job easy.

Back on the Flight Deck

One thing that strikes me—even to this day. I know I’m not the only one who thinks this. During the last few months of my time in the Navy, I couldn’t wait to get out of the Navy, get off the ship, and get back to civilian life. However, a few years after my discharge, there were times where I wanted to go back for a visit, go back for a short time… just to feel that ocean breeze on my face, observe flight operations, and feel that adrenaline rush, one more time.

Believe it or not, I got that opportunity several years ago when I was writing my Navy memoir, “Three Years Eleven Months & 29 Days: But Who’s Counting.”

USS Ronald Reagan (2009) E-2 Hawkeye on Cat 2
USS Ronald Reagan (2009). E-2 Hawkeye on Cat 2.
(Photo credit: Andy Adkins)

I asked the Navy (actually, the Navy Public Affairs Office) for three things: First, to spend a few days at Great Lakes and talk to a few recruits and company commanders. I wanted to compare the time I spent at boot camp (Orlando RTC, Jul-Sep ’73) with today’s current boot camp experience.

Second, I asked to spend a few days aboard an active carrier, observing flight ops, walk the flight deck, and spend a little time with Crash and the Yellow Shirts.

Third, to experience a recovery and a catapult launch.

When I was in New York for a Legal Tech Conference, I took the opportunity to visit the Navy PAO, which was only a few blocks from the conference hotel. When I introduced myself to the Lieutenant and explained my visit, she pulled my request out of a pile of papers and informed me that my requests (all three of them) had been approved.

That was easier than I thought. I spent 3 days at Great Lakes, 3 days aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CV-76), and got a recover & launch on a C-2 Greyhound. When I got to the Reagan, I thought I’d be able to observe flight ops from Vulture’s Row, up on the island superstructure.

Wrong!

The Flight Deck Officer had been a former ABH, like me. He gave me a float coat, a cranial helmet, and said, “Follow me!” Wow! After 30+ years, I was back on the flight deck. Just like riding a bike. I knew where to go and, more importantly, where not to venture, during flight ops.

Times Have Changed… for me

I recently read somewhere that some veterans feel the phrase, “Thank you for your service,” is almost like a canned speech. Meaning that some folks believe it’s way overused. I don’t believe that. I personally think it’s a way for someone to express their appreciation for our veterans, no matter what age or what war.

Back when I was first discharged in 1977, there was still anger about the Vietnam War. Not as much as in the late 60s and early 70s, but it was still there. No one said anything to me about my service and at the time, I was fine by that. After all, I’d done my time, and I was moving forward with my life.

I used to say, “You’re welcome,” but even that, for me, seemed a bit shallow.

Now, my response is, “It was my honor” or “It was an honor and a privilege.” Sometimes, I’ll add in, “I’d do it all over again, too.” That, to me, gives my response a little more meaning.

One thing I’ve been doing the past few years, time permitting, is when I do see a veteran—either with a ball cap or something that identifies him/her as a veteran—I’ll ask the usual questions, if appropriate:

  • When did you serve?
  • What branch and what unit?
  • How long were you in?
  • What did you do?

Sometimes the conversations are a moment or two; sometimes longer. But they are usually two-way conversations. I think that’s what most veterans like—the chance to convey what they did. I know I do.

I also realize this doesn’t apply to all veterans. I know several who served during the Vietnam War and came home wounded. And I’m not talking about physical wounds. Someone much smarter than me stated that “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”

Amen to that.

Until we meet again,
Andy

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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 and their families. Download your FREE copy HERE.

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Answers

  1. Winston Churchill.
  2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975).
  3. What’s Going On (1971), Marvin Gaye; written by Alfred W Cleveland, Marvin P Gaye, Renaldo Benson.

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