#167—The Navy Introduced Me to a Lot of “Firsts”

A-7 Corsair Ready for Launch

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) Boot Camp What can I say that others haven’t said about “Boot Camp?” I joined the Navy at the tender young age of 18 and attended a “truncated” 6-week boot camp at Orlando RTC (Recruit… Read more#167—The Navy Introduced Me to a Lot of “Firsts”

#166—The Day I “accidentally” Made 30 Kids Cry

Gainesville Fire Department

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) I was (and still am) a Navy veteran… a proud Navy veteran. I spent 4 years in the Navy (’73-77) as an Aviation Boatswains Mate-Handler. Most of that time was as a Crash firefighter. I… Read more#166—The Day I “accidentally” Made 30 Kids Cry

#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

Launch the Alert 5!

Not many people in this world have heard the phrase, “Launch the Alert 5!” I mean, why would they? Unless, of course, they watched the movie, “Top Gun.” But for those of us who have lived it… it’s more than… Read moreLaunch the Alert 5!

#163—Old Habits Die Hard

US Navy Veteran Patch

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) “Old Habits Die Hard.” From Dr. Google… “Said to mean that people are often reluctant to change their way of doing something, especially something which they have been doing for a long time.” “Old Habits… Read more#163—Old Habits Die Hard

#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

#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”