{"id":7056,"date":"2024-02-06T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=7056"},"modified":"2024-02-06T08:45:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T13:45:24","slug":"162-my-best-days-in-the-navy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/162-my-best-days-in-the-navy\/","title":{"rendered":"#162\u2014My Best Day(s) in the Navy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

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  1. <\/em>Who said, \u201cWhen you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. <\/em>In what movie (and who said it), did we hear, \u201cLife is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you\u2019re gonna get.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. In what song (and who sang it), did we hear the following?
    Let the sunshine<\/em>
    Let the sunshine in<\/em>
    The sunshine in<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    <\/div>
    Blog #162 (audio)<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>
    <\/div>
    Published: <\/span>February 5, 2024<\/span><\/div>
    <\/div>Audio by Andy Adkins<\/a><\/div><\/form><\/span>0<\/span> Downloads<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>\n\n\n
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    I\u2019ve been slacking a bit in my blog writing over the past few months. There\u2019s really not a good excuse, except\u2026 as my dad used to say\u2026 \u201cI\u2019ve been busier than a one-armed paperhanger working in the wind<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not too long ago, I volunteered for several church-related projects. I\u2019ve written about the ERT (Early Response) Team mission<\/a>, going to places that have been hit by a natural disaster. Those were eye-opening for me and extremely personally rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But lately, I\u2019ve also gotten involved in local community \u201cRebuild\u201d projects. I\u2019ll spare you the details, but basically, I\u2019ve worked on several projects to help others rebuild part of their home. Or, an addition, such as a handicap ramp. I\u2019m not a carpenter, by any means, but I\u2019m an okay handyman, so point me in the direction, let me know what you want, and I\u2019ll work on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Rebuild
    Rebuild project – handicap access ramp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Last year, we built a handicap access ramp for a lady and her husband who needed the ramp for their son, a US Marine, who was going to be transferred from San Diego back to Gainesville. The VA requires certain accommodations (hence, the handicap ramp). Turns out his mom was a 30-year US Navy veteran (Radioman). Small world and, for me, a more personal connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Anyway, that\u2019s been keeping me busy and, as I often tell my wife, \u201cOut of trouble and off the streets<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These are fun projects for me, working alongside other volunteers, helping to make someone\u2019s life a little easier. I\u2019m determined to continue these volunteer efforts for as long as I\u2019m physically and mentally capable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And in between all that, I wrote another book\u2014it\u2019s in the final editing stages now and I hope UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN<\/strong> will be published later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    Best Day in the Navy<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The title of this week\u2019s blog is, \u201cMy Best Day(s) in the Navy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As I get older (I\u2019m 69 now), my mind often drifts back to those younger days. You know\u2026 when I had hair, weighed a few pounds less, and still had knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I spent four years in the US Navy from July 1973 through July 1977. Not all days were great, but I\u2019ll attest they seemed to improve after <\/em>boot camp (Orlando RTC<\/a><\/strong>, Jul\u2013Aug \u201973). Not that boot camp was all that hard, it was just an eye-opener for me, as I\u2019m sure for a lot of my other veteran friends. Besides, I learned a new language<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Someone once asked me what was my best day in the Navy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I had to think about that for a while and I\u2019m still not sure there was any one<\/em> best day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It’s an easy cop-out to say my best day was the day I was discharged on July 8, 1977, after Three Years, Eleven Months, and 29 Days (But Who\u2019s Counting)<\/a><\/strong>. That\u2019s the day I walked off the Afterbrow of USS Kitty Hawk<\/em> (CV-63)<\/strong><\/a> and returned to civilian life. I\u2019d served aboard her for 2\u00bd years, including Westpac \u201975<\/strong>, and a year in the Bremerton Shipyards<\/strong>, retrofitting for the newer F-14 Tomcats<\/strong> and the S-3 Viking<\/strong> ASW aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Maybe back then, it was a good day, but years later, it wasn\u2019t <\/em>my best day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    I often think of my first few days at NAS Agana, Guam<\/a><\/strong>\u2014that was my first duty station. I was just an 18-year-old kid, who\u2019d just completed six weeks of ABH<\/strong> (Aviation Boatswain\u2019s Mate-Handler<\/strong>) \u201cA\u201d School<\/strong><\/a> in Lakehurst, NJ who was going to be an aircraft Crash & Rescue<\/strong> firefighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While I\u2019ll admit, those first few days of getting oriented to both Guam (a scuba diving paradise\u2026 at least, for me) and to the Crash Crew was exciting, it didn\u2019t take long to get into a routine of 24-hours on and 24-hours off duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We worked two sections (Port & Starboard; I was Port) for 15 months straight. Toward the end of my tour on Guam, the Division Officer, Bos\u2019n Joye<\/strong>, decided there were enough of us in Crash to offer what we called a \u201cKelly Day.\u201d That meant every month or so, we\u2019d get an extra day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It was<\/em> a great day when I got my Private Pilot\u2019s license (Single-engine, land) after 40 hours of flight instruction from the local NAS Agana, Guam aero club. That was cool: I could take passengers and fly around Guam, which didn\u2019t take all that long since Guam is an island 32 miles long by 4-8 miles wide. Of course, there were those restricted areas, and a single-engine Cessna 150 (or Cessna 172) doesn\u2019t outrun an Air Force fighter jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then there was the \u201cFreedom Flight.\u201d My good friend Glenn Law<\/strong> and I flew out together on a Northwest Orient 707. We both transferred to USS Kitty Hawk<\/em>, though Glenn arrived a few weeks earlier than I. That was a good day\u2026 not necessarily leaving Guam but transferring to a new duty station\u2014an aircraft carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"NAS
    “Freedom Flight” from Guam (February 1975).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    USS Kitty Hawk<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    After several weeks of liberty back home in Gainesville, Florida, I flew out to San Diego in March 1975 to catch my next duty station. The only problem for me was that Kitty Hawk<\/em> was on a 30-day RIMPAC exercise, preparing for her next cruise, Westpac \u201975<\/a><\/strong>. I had to wait at the San Diego Naval Station in a temporary holding company doing nothing but cleaning our barracks, then being cut loose for liberty at noon. Those were my most boring <\/em>3 weeks in the Navy. Not good days at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When Kitty Hawk<\/em> returned to her home port at North Island, I made a beeline to check in. Once processed, my good friend Glenn came down to get me and escorted me to the V-1 Division<\/strong> berthing compartment. Now that was a good day\u2014reporting aboard my new duty station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Talk about a change of d\u00e9cor\u2026 wow! I thought our barracks room in Guam was small\u2014with four of us sharing a room. My \u201croom\u201d was now 2\u2019 x 6\u00bd\u2019 x 2\u2019 middle rack. Not enough room to sit up in my rack, barely long enough to fit my 6\u20194\u201d frame. But it didn\u2019t take me long to appreciate the comfort of \u201chome,\u201d especially after working 16-18 hours on the flight deck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"USS
    Andy Adkins; USS Midway<\/em> (CV-41) Museum. (Photo credit: Becky Adkins)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Liberty Calls<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    During Westpac \u201975, we visited PI (Philippine Islands<\/strong>), which was our overseas home port, Hong Kong<\/a><\/strong>, and Japan<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    About half-way through the cruise, there was scuttlebutt that we\u2019d visit Christchurch, New Zealand, which would mean we\u2019d cross the equator and an opportunity to meet King Neptune & his court to transition from a Polliwog<\/strong> to a Shellback<\/strong>. But alas… that never happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I think every cruise has those types of rumors floating about the mess decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My first time into Olongapo<\/strong>, PI was\u2026 how shall I say? An experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A new country, lots of beer, lots of cheap food, plenty of great music, and a plethora of \u201csocial entertainers.\u201d The fact that PI had Marshal Law in 1975, meaning we had to be off the streets by midnight, sort of gave you the idea that PI might be a little dicey at night. I never<\/em> experienced any problems in PI; not in Olongapo nor the long Jeepney rides out to Subic City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hong Kong was a little different, of course, but we were only there for six days with max liberty\u2014that meant we only needed to be aboard the ship if we had duty. All other times, we were able to explore. I did take advantage of that, though. Several of us took tours to the top of Victoria Peak (the highest mountain in Hong Kong), overseeing Hong Kong harbor, and out to Aberdeen, the floating city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Hong
    Westpac ’75: Aberdeen, Hong Kong. With ABH3 Steve Cummings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Because Hong Kong didn\u2019t have a pier large enough to accommodate an aircraft carrier, we anchored out in the harbor. To get to and from shore, we took ferry boats. From atop Victoria Peak, Kitty Hawk <\/em>was quite an awesome sight in the harbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then, there was Japan. Again, max liberty for our six days in port. And again, I took advantage of tours. Several of us took a bullet train from Yokosuka to Tokyo and spent the day exploring. Those were good days, too.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Westpac
    Westpac ’75: Tokyo, Japan
    Gary Borne (R.I.P), Tom Watson, Jim King, Buddy Laney, Gary DeSaunier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Liberty calls were unique for each port. My only regret was that while I took advantage to explore the areas around Hong Kong and Japan, I didn\u2019t tour PI. I spent most of my time ashore in the bars and restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But from what other seasoned sailors told me, \u201cYou spend your first cruise in the bars; your second and other cruises, you\u2019ll find there\u2019s more to PI than the bars<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My Best Day(s)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    This may sound a little crazy, but most of my great memories were while I was aboard Kitty Hawk<\/em>, working in Crash on the flight deck. And, after the Bremerton Shipyards, as a Yellow Shirt<\/strong> director in Fly 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The hours were long, but being on the flight deck during flight operations, working 16-18-hour days, it\u2019s hard to describe the constant adrenaline, the continuous movement of a well-orchestrated dance of aircraft, and the confidence of a close-knit team of flight deck personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    F-14 Tomcat launching from USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Oct, 1999. (Photo credit: Airman Recruit Mara McCleaft)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In addition, the fresh ocean air, the clear moonlit nights, and the magnificent multi-dimensional show of sparkling stars\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Those, to me, were my best days in the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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    Get your FREE <\/strong>copy of my novel, NEVER FORGET<\/strong> (see below).
    No obligations, nothing to fill out.<\/h3>\n\n\n
    \n
    \"NEVER<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\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<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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    1. <\/strong>Marcus Aurelius.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. <\/strong>Forest Gump <\/strong>(1994), Mrs. Gump (Sally Field).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. <\/strong>Let the Sunshine In<\/strong> (1969), The 5th Dimension; written by Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt MacDermot.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Previous blogs mentioned in this post:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n