A Veteran's Journey

• 

• 

• 

---

I’m a United States Navy veteran. I served four years, 1973-77 and had two superb duty stations: NAS Agana, Guam (’73-75) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63; ’75-77), an aircraft carrier.

My rating was an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate-Handler (ABH2) and my primary duties were an aircraft Crash firefighter and an aircraft director (Yellow Shirt). I spent most of my time in Crash.

While on Kitty Hawk, I made the Westpac ’75 cruise and spent a year with her in the Bremerton Shipyards. When we returned to San Diego in April ’76, I became a Yellow Shirt director. I loved both jobs (Crash & Yellow Shirt).

I began writing A Veteran’s Journey on Veteran’s Day 2019 before the pandemic. It’s been a way to share my various journeys in a weekly blog. I primarily write about the Navy. But periodically, I’ll share an experience regarding my dad, who fought with the 80th Division in Europe during World War II and my father-in-law, who served with the 82d Airborne and dropped into Normandy on D-Day.

Since I write a weekly blog, it doesn’t take too long to rack up a plethora of “short stories:” 103 blogs, to be exact, NOT counting my weekly(ish) Navy Friday Funny. I’ve published two volumes of A Veteran’s Journey, each containing 50 short stories.

Both volumes are FREE to download (PDF and/or eBook) and available from my website. The links are below. There’s no obligation, nothing to sign up for – just an annoying CAPTCHA to keep the Internet robots at bay.

---

For those who don’t know, I also wrote a novel, NEVER FORGET. It’s my first fiction and is the story of a Vietnam War veteran on a journey to find redemption and forgiveness. Here are a few reviews:

• “Andy Adkins has created a ‘small world’ novel in which Tom Reilly encounters several Vietnam War veterans, including a part-time preacher, a health care worker, the son of one of his father’s friends, and the former husband of another health care professional. At the very least, these different voices provide more perspectives on the war. Adkins pulls these parts together in a manner that is ultimately satisfying. This book should be shared by members of different generations who have an interest in learning about the Vietnam War and its continuing effects on those who served.”

— “Member Spotlight” Review by Vietnam Veterans of America magazine (SEP/OCT 2021)

• “WOW! A powerful story. I easily related to Tom’s war experiences and his ‘coming home.’ Many of us Vietnam veterans experienced much the same. I now know more about WWII and Alzheimer’s, thanks to Tom’s dad, Ed Reilly. Congratulations and well done!”

— Fred Dunlap, Sgt, 2/28th Infantry, 1st Division. Vietnam: August 1967-August 1968

• “Loved ‘Never Forget.’ I could relate to Tom Reilly on so many levels. My Dad was also a WWII combat veteran and we shared much the same relationship that Tom and his Father, Ed had. Your book brought back a lot of memories, some good, some not so good. Thanks for writing it.”

— Stephen Dodd, SP4, C Co. 1/5(M) Infantry, 25th Division, Vietnam: 1968-69

---

NEVER FORGET is also FREE to download (PDF and/or eBook).

If you prefer a paperback copy, all are also available on Amazon.

I ask a favor… but under NO obligation. If you read any of these books, I would greatly appreciate it if you would post a review (hopefully, positive) on Amazon. That would help gain a little more exposure.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have subscribed to my blog, those who have posted comments on my Facebook posts, and those who have send messages and emails. But most of all, I’d like to thank our veterans – ALL VETERANS – for their service and for the sacrifices they (and their families) have made over the years to help us continue to enjoy our freedoms.

God bless our veterans! God bless America!

Until we meet again,

Andy Adkins

FREE Downloads: Click the links below which will take you to the my book page providing a few details about each book. Then click on the “FREE for Veterans” link on that page to download either a PDF or an eBook (or both).

DOWNLOAD A Veteran’s Journey, Volume 1	DOWNLOAD A Veteran’s Journey, Volume 2	DOWNLOAD NEVER FORGET