#165—Back Then, I Could Sleep Anywhere

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) My dad wrote in his diary, “You Can’t Get Much Closer Than This…” about sleeping in foxholes during World War II in Europe. Not occasionally, mind you, but most of his time over there. Except… Read more#165—Back Then, I Could Sleep Anywhere

#164—It’s Just a Number

USS Kitty Hawk Decommissioning Ceremony

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) The conversation started with, “It’s just a number…” Birthdays & Anniversaries I’ll be 70 years old later this year. Like many of my “seasoned” colleagues and shipmates, birthdays are sometimes just another day in the… Read more#164—It’s Just a Number

#162—My Best Day(s) in the Navy

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) I’ve been slacking a bit in my blog writing over the past few months. There’s really not a good excuse, except… as my dad used to say… “I’ve been busier than a one-armed paperhanger working… Read more#162—My Best Day(s) in the Navy

#161—The “Pucker Factor”

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) According to Professor Google, the term, “Pucker Factor,” originated somewhere, sometime in the 60s. I never knew the term during my early elementary and junior high school years, though there were times when it would… Read more#161—The “Pucker Factor”

#158—My Favorite Navy Jets (70s version)

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) Someone recently asked me what my favorite plane was when I was in the Navy. Not an unusual question for a Navy veteran, but it came from a young’un, probably not yet a teen. She… Read more#158—My Favorite Navy Jets (70s version)

#157—Oh, the Places You’ll Go…

Andy Adkins: Boot Camp, Retired

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) What my Recruiter Said – “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” It’s been over 50 years since I walked into the Navy recruiter’s office in Tallahassee, Florida. At the tender young age of 18, I was… Read more#157—Oh, the Places You’ll Go…

#153—The “Dream Sheet”

USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 underway Western Pacific 29 November 1970

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) Your airman will make requests for their first duty station selection while at Basic Military Training (BMT). They will fill out a form, known as a “dream sheet,” to list their assignment preferences. They will… Read more#153—The “Dream Sheet”

#149—Short? “Five Days and a Wake-up”

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) In my last post I wrote two weeks ago was my “Anniversary” of joining Uncle Sam’s Canoe Club 50 years ago. That post got me to thinking about those last few days aboard USS Kitty… Read more#149—Short? “Five Days and a Wake-up”

Blog #146—Flight Ops: Another Fine Day in the Navy!

Since I’m out on vacation this week, I thought I’d repost one of my favorite blogs. During my short Three Years, Eleven Months, and 29 Days (But Who’s Counting) career in the Navy, my rating was an ABH (Aviation Boatswain’s… Read moreBlog #146—Flight Ops: Another Fine Day in the Navy!

#142—An Unexpected Delight

This past week, my wife and I had the pleasure to attend a reception for local authors and artists. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but since one of my simple “prose” writings had been accepted, I thought it would… Read more#142—An Unexpected Delight