{"id":3955,"date":"2021-04-20T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=3955"},"modified":"2021-10-05T10:59:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T14:59:11","slug":"79-what-did-you-do-in-the-navy-granddad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/79-what-did-you-do-in-the-navy-granddad\/","title":{"rendered":"#79\u2014What Did You Do in the Navy, Granddad?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Who said, \u201cThe only person who never makes a mistake is the person who never does anything.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  2. In what movie (and who said it) did we hear, \u201cI feel the need\u2026 the need for speed.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  3. What song (and which movie) did we hear the following:
    Everything is awesome<\/em>
    Everything is cool when you’re part of a team<\/em>
    Everything is awesome, when we’re living our dream<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n
    <\/div>
    Blog #79 (Audio)<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>

    Listen to the audio of this blog, read by Andy Adkins. Click the \u201cAudio<\/strong><\/em>\u201d button below.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    Published: <\/span>October 5, 2021<\/span><\/div>
    <\/div>Audio by Andy Adkins<\/a><\/div><\/form><\/span>0<\/span> Downloads<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Restricted Traveling… Bummer<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Our son, his beautiful wife, and our two grandsons live in San Diego. Our son has been there since he graduated college in 2006 and they married in 2010. They love the area and while we visit a couple of times a year (at least, before<\/em> COVID), we try to stay in touch with them several times a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since COVID, however, we\u2019ve been using video\u2014Facetime, Zoom, and FB Messenger Kids\u2014you know the drill. It\u2019s not anywhere close to being there physically, but given the current situation, we make do. In fact, our oldest grandson calls several times a week using his iPad, which is\u2026 in a word\u2026 awesome! He calls and reads books to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    D.J. is almost nine years old; his younger brother is almost seven. They are both smart and creative, athletic and coordinated, and have long blonde curly hair (sort of like I used to, before<\/em> the Navy). I\u2019m not biased by any means, though I will confess\u2026 I am<\/em> their grandfather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We hope to get out there later this year to visit. It\u2019s not a sure thing, but that\u2019s the goal. Time will tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Meanwhile, I\u2019ve been thinking… it\u2019s been more than a year since we\u2019ve seen them in person and\u2026 he\u2019s almost nine years old\u2026 and maybe, just maybe… (I\u2019m sure my wife, my son, my daughter-in-law\u2026 and my daughter will correct me if I\u2019m wrong) maybe I can tell him what I did when I was in the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A Little Background<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Most of those who regularly read my blog already know this, but bear with me\u2026 it\u2019s how I might start my conversation with DJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"USS<\/a>
    USS Midway, CV-41
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    I served with the United States Navy from July 1973-77; one day short of four years. In fact, I wrote a book titled, Three Years, Eleven Months, & 29 Days: But Who\u2019s Counting<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. Yeah, I know\u2014don\u2019t give up my day job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My rating (i.e., my job) was an Aviation Boatswain\u2019s Mate-Handler (ABH2); I was a 2d Class Petty Officer when I left the Navy. As an ABH, I was an aircraft Crash firefighter and a Yellow Shirt director, and had two duty stations: NAS Agana, Guam<\/strong> (\u201973-75) and USS Kitty Hawk<\/em><\/strong>, CV-63 (\u201975-77). My only cruise was Westpac \u201975<\/strong>. While aboard Kitty Hawk<\/em>, I was also a radio DJ: \u201cCountry Chet Adkins,\u201d and had the 0600-0800 morning show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve blogged many times about these experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Do You Tell a 9-Year-Old About the Navy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    First of all, I don\u2019t think it would be a good idea for DJ to sign up for my weekly blog\u2026 at least, not yet. Perhaps in a few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While he may learn a thing or two about the Navy, I\u2019d be worried that he might ask his teacher for the latest \u201cscuttlebutt\u201d or ask her if he needed to \u201csign her ID10T form.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But what if he wanted to know about the Navy? How would I respond? I \u201csorta\u201d envision a conversation similar to the following. Picture this\u2026 we\u2019re on the living room floor, building an aircraft carrier out of Legos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Laying the Foundation\u2014Boot Camp<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Me, laying the carrier flight deck with several large 12\u201d x 6\u201d flat Lego pieces: \u201cDid you know I was in the Navy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, helping me build the carrier responds: \u201cYep. You tell me every time you visit, Granddad.\u201d He doesn\u2019t look me in the eye; his focus is on building the Lego carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Andy<\/a>
    Andy Adkins, Boot Camp
    Orlando RTC, July 1973
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cDo you want to know what I did in the Navy?\u201d

    DJ, continues to add layers to the flight deck: \u201cSure, Granddad.\u201d I can\u2019t tell if he\u2019s really interested in the Navy or focused on the Legos. At this point, I know he\u2019s humoring me, but stay with me here. This could get interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cWhat\u2019s the Navy, Granddad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, with a wide grin, about to lay out my best first impression of the Navy to my grandson: \u201cI\u2019m glad you asked, DJ. The Navy is a branch of the United States military\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to explain “the military”<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, still focused on the flight deck: \u201cWhat\u2019s a \u2018military,\u2019 Granddad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I should also mention that DJ is inquisitive, like most 9-year-olds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cWell\u2026 you know the United States is a country, right? And the US became independent in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I know he knows this\u2026 it\u2019s part of the school curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cYes, Granddad. We learned all that in school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cGood. Well\u2026 the military helps keep us safe from\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At this point, I pause\u2026 am I the only one who questions whether I should continue along this line of reasoning?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cThe Navy is the part of the military that has ships, like the one I was on, USS Kitty Hawk<\/em>. You know, like the one in downtown San Diego: USS Midway<\/a><\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cWow, Granddad. You were on a ship that<\/em> big?\u201d Now he finally looks up at me, but only briefly. I smile at his quick glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, with a sigh of relief not<\/em> having to explain the other branches of the military\u2026 just yet: \u201cYep. Kitty Hawk<\/em> was a little bigger, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A New Recruit\u2014Why Navy Ships are Gray<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Me, while adding gray (I made sure they had plenty of gray Legos) blocks to build the outer structure of the carrier: \u201cI was only a few years older than you when I joined the Navy\u2026 well, maybe nine years older\u2026 okay, I was twice your age. I went to boot camp in Orlando, Florida, not far from where I grew up in Gainesville.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cWhat\u2019s boot camp, Granddad?\u201d His focus is now helping me find more gray Lego pieces. An aircraft carrier is huge<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: What I really wanted to tell him was boot camp was where the Navy tried to kick your ass every day for six weeks, breaking everyone down as individuals, and building the company back up as a team. I wanted him to know I learned a new language and to share a few choice Navy \u201cterms.\u201d I really wanted to tell him about \u201cdeck parties\u201d and \u201cHello Dollys.\u201d But instead, I simply said, \u201cBoot camp is where you learn to become a sailor with a lot of physical exercise. It wasn\u2019t like playing soccer like you and your brother do, or swimming, but it was more like jumping jacks and pushups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sidebar…<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    At that point, I demonstrate a pushup\u2026 actually 33 of them. I used to be able to do as many pushups as my age, but when I hit 55, I decided I\u2019d stop there. I\u2019ve only been able to repeat that once\u2026 in two sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But I digress\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cDo you know why ships are painted gray?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cIs it because it\u2019s your favorite color, Granddad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, beaming like a tomato on the front of a seed catalog: \u201cNo, it\u2019s because after years of studies, the Navy determined that gray was a harder color to see, especially against the horizon when you\u2019re from far away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cA\u201d School\u2014Adding the Island<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Me, beginning to work on the superstructure, otherwise known as the island: \u201cAfter boot camp, I had to go to a special school to learn how to fight fires.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, looking up at me with a somewhat questionable look: \u201cYou were a fireman, Granddad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, again beaming like a tomato on the front of a seed catalog: \u201cYes, both when I was in the Navy and when I first got out of the Navy, though that was a little different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cDid you get to fight any fires?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, my hands stop trying to take apart that blasted<\/em> Lego piece that seems like somebody applied super glue (tell me I\u2019m not the only one who struggles with that): \u201cYes, I did. Both in the Navy and when I was a city firefighter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, focused on the Legos: \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There’s a Reason for “Why?”<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, after both of us pause for a few moments, neither knowing if the other wanted to talk about fires: \u201cA couple of months ago, we saw some firetrucks down the street and there was a fire in a house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, after asking myself if this is something I should talk about with my grandson. I don\u2019t know what he saw. A pause\u2026 then: \u201cDid it take the firemen long to put out the fire, DJ?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, back to helping me find more gray Lego pieces for the island: \u201cIt didn\u2019t seem long at all. Dad [my son] said they put the fire out within a few minutes and nobody was at home. It was down the hill, so we didn\u2019t watch for very long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, exhaling a sigh of relief: \u201cThat\u2019s good. The firemen did their job and put out the fire, and I\u2019m grateful nobody was hurt. When Grammy and I drove by that house the other day, we didn\u2019t see any damage, so it must have been a small fire. Let\u2019s hope so, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    NAS Agana, Guam\u2014Adding Aircraft<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Me, telling DJ about my time in Guam at a Naval Air Station: \u201cAfter my firefighting school, the Navy sent me to Guam; it\u2019s an island in the South Pacific. Do you remember going to Hawaii?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, shaking his head front and back, excitedly: \u201cYep. I love Hawaii. We may even go again this summer when school is out and if the pandemic is over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, trying to steer away from any discussion of the pandemic; I\u2019m sure DJ & his younger brother have been inundated with masks, sanitizer, social distancing, and everything else: \u201cI hope you get to go to Hawaii. I\u2019ve been there a few times, too, but my first time was in the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cGuam is kind of like<\/em> Hawaii\u2026 you know, beaches, clear water, and warm sunshine. I was there for 15 months, but that was a long time ago\u2026 even before your daddy was born. I liked it and hope to visit again sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, looking for different colored Lego pieces; he already knows how to build airplanes with Legos: \u201cWere you a fireman in Guam, Granddad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, wanting to go into great detail about the different kinds of aircraft on Guam: the C-130 Hercules, the A-3 Whales, the C-121 Constellations, the P-3 Orions, and the dozens of emergencies we responded to on our shift, and I how learned to drive all five different Crash trucks, and when off-duty went scuba diving, learned to fly an airplane, and visited a lot of bars\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But then I simply answer, \u201cYep, I was a fireman in Guam, DJ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We build our first airplane\u2014it\u2019s not an exact replica of an A-7 Corsair, but at least he can pronounce the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Flight Deck\u2014Launch & Recovery<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, working on the next aircraft\u2014I tell him it\u2019ll be an F-4 Phantom and he likes to say that, F-4 Phantom<\/em>: \u201cGranddad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cYes, DJ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cYou said earlier you were on a big ship, like the one in downtown San Diego. Did you go there after Guam?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, trying not to be an obviously happy Granddad who\u2019s carrying on this wonderful conversation about the Navy while building a Lego aircraft carrier: \u201cYes, I was. After Guam, I first flew home to see my mom, dad, and sister because I hadn\u2019t seen them in a long time. In fact, back then, we didn\u2019t have computers or cell phones or iPads to talk with them. We wrote letters\u2014that\u2019s how we stayed in touch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cOh. That\u2019s a bummer; you didn\u2019t have computers or iPads.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cYep. But after three weeks at home, I flew back out here to San Diego to start working on the ship. Hand me a few small yellow Legos and I\u2019ll build the afterburners for the Phantoms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    “After”… what?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"Lego<\/a>
    Lego Aircraft Carrier (Homemade)
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cWhat\u2019s an afterburner?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, realizing I may have just created a rabbit hole: \u201cIt\u2019s a way to make the F-4 Phantom go faster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cYou mean like when you push me really high on the swing and mom runs over to talk to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, blushing\u2014he knows: \u201cYep. Just like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ, after taking the Lego F-4 Phantom with yellow afterburners from my hand, jumping up and running around the living room yelling, \u201cWatch me, Granddad. I can really fly fast with after\u2026 after\u2026 after\u2026 what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me: \u201cBurners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cAfterburners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finishing Up<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    With a happy heart and a grin from ear-to-ear, we finished building the Lego aircraft carrier, complete with a Lego A-7 Corsair, a Lego F-4 Phantom, and a somewhat strange looking Lego E-2 Hawkeye. Well… almost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you\u2019re having a deep conversation with your 9-year-old grandson, you can imagine the unimaginable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other Navy grandfathers know exactly<\/em> what I\u2019m talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, testing the waters for a future sailor: \u201cDJ. What do you think? Would you like to be in the Navy and be a firefighter on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier like your old granddad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DJ: \u201cIs it time to eat yet? We\u2019ve just built a really big<\/em> aircraft carrier. I\u2019m hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me, with a sigh\u2026 a happy sigh, though. \u201cYes, of course. I\u2019m hungry too. We\u2019ll build another carrier in a few more years. Would you like me to make you some SOS?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One more\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"Lego<\/a>
    The Lego Table (sorted by a “retired” engineer)
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    What does a retired engineer do to keep busy when there’s a table full of assorted Legos scattered about? Sort them into colors and sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I love my grandsons (and<\/em> their parents) and hope to see them soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Until we meet again,<\/em>
    Andy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Answers<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Theodore Roosevelt.<\/li>
    2. Top Gun<\/em><\/strong> (1986), Lt. Pete \u201cMaverick\u201d Mitchell (Tom Cruise).<\/li>
    3. Everything is AWESOME!!!<\/em><\/strong>, \u201cThe Lego Movie\u201d (2014) by Tegan and Sara; written by Jorma Taccone, Andrew D. Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Joshua Bartholomew, Shawn Michael Patterson, and Lisa Rae Harriton.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"NEVER<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (\u201973-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET<\/strong>, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran\u2019s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness<\/em>. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE copy HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) Who said, \u201cThe only person who never makes a mistake is the person who never does anything.\u201d? In what movie (and who said it) did we hear, \u201cI feel the need\u2026 the need for speed.\u201d?… Read more#79\u2014What Did You Do in the Navy, Granddad?<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[59],"tags":[166,214,106,74,162,71,169,19,274,141,185,7,273,84,16],"class_list":["post-3955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-navy","tag-a-school","tag-a-7-corsair","tag-abh","tag-agana-guam","tag-aviation-boatswains-mate-handler","tag-boot-camp","tag-f-4-phantom","tag-firefighter","tag-hawaii","tag-orlando-rtc","tag-san-diego","tag-uss-kitty-hawk","tag-uss-midway","tag-westpac","tag-yellow-shirt","content-layout-excerpt-thumb"],"yoast_head":"\n#79\u2014What Did You Do in the Navy, Granddad? — A Veteran's Journey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Being a Navy veteran and a grandfather, I want to share some of my experiences with my grandsons. 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