{"id":7278,"date":"2024-06-04T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=7278"},"modified":"2024-06-04T07:42:48","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T11:42:48","slug":"169-military-ball-caps-and-rocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/169-military-ball-caps-and-rocks\/","title":{"rendered":"#169\u2014Military Ball Caps… and Rocks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

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  1. Who said, \u201cIn war, there are no unwounded soldiers.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Who said (and what movie), \u201cWhen you\u2019re in the Navy and you\u2019re in transit, nobody knows where the hell you are.\u201d?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. In what song (and who sang it) did we hear the following?
    Well, the note said, \u201cMrs. Johnson<\/em>
    You’re wearin’ your dresses way too high<\/em>
    It’s reported you’ve been drinking<\/em>
    And a-running ’round with men and goin’ wild<\/em>
    And we don’t believe you oughta be a-bringin’ up<\/em>
    Your little girl this way\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    <\/div>
    Blog #169 (audio)<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>
    <\/div>
    Published: <\/span>June 1, 2024<\/span><\/div>
    <\/div>Audio by Andy Adkins<\/a><\/div><\/form><\/span>2<\/span> Downloads<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>\n\n\n
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    Memorial Day<\/a> was only a few days ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A day of remembering those who didn\u2019t make it back. I took some time to myself, thought of those I served with who didn\u2019t come back and thought of those I didn\u2019t know who didn\u2019t come back. There were several Facebook Navy Groups & Pages that also remembered those shipmates. I\u2019ll be honest, reading through some of those who experienced the same \u201cincident(s)\u201d as I dredged up memories I\u2019d rather forget. But I cannot\/will not<\/em> forget these shipmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But life moves forward…<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Andy
    Andy Adkins (2022)
    Photo credit: Becky Adkins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    I have a USS Kitty Hawk<\/em>, CV-63<\/strong> ball cap. It\u2019s my third or fourth\u2014I can\u2019t remember. I often wear it when I\u2019m out and about. I know a lot of us veterans do that. I served aboard Kitty Hawk<\/a><\/em> from March ’75 through the time I left the Navy in July ’77. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Periodically, I\u2019ll spot someone heading my way, wearing a similar<\/em> style ball cap. It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard. I notice it and I\u2019ll acknowledge that fellow veteran\u2019s service with a nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now and then, I\u2019ll spot a ball cap with another carrier<\/em> and start up a conversation. You know the usual questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. When were you on the carrier?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. What division?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. How long were you in?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Where ya from?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s rare when I see someone with a Kitty Hawk<\/em> cap, but when I do, it\u2019s \u201cMiller Time.\u201d Just kidding, but we often get into some great conversation. Funny thing is\u2026 it doesn\u2019t take too long before our conversation turns to PI<\/strong> (Philippine Islands) and liberty<\/a>. We all had similar experiences and I\u2019ll spare the details, but those who know\u2026 know<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Helping a Fellow Veteran<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Last week, on the way back from a 30-mile bike ride, I rode through the parking lot of a resale store. Three guys were trying to load a HEAVY stove into the back of a van. Two were store employees, one of whom looked like he wished he were somewhere else. The van owner wore a US Navy<\/strong> submarine ball cap\u2014USS Seawolf<\/em><\/strong> (SSN-21).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Let me pause here for a moment. I used to know all<\/em> the US Navy carrier hull designations (ALL of them); I don\u2019t have them memorized anymore. However, I know almost absolutely nothing<\/em> about US Navy submarines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The only one I\u2019ve been on was the USS Albacore<\/em><\/strong> in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sitting on dry land. I was in Portsmouth years ago for a conference and this was one of the excursions offered. Of course, I went. I realize it\u2019s not the modern Navy, but it gave me an idea of what my 6\u20194\u201d frame would encounter inside<\/em> a sub and confirmed my decision in 1973 to be an airdale and work outside <\/em>on the flight deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Anyway, I stopped  and got off my bike, offering to help load the stove into the van. I think most anyone would\u2019ve done that anyway. Unfortunately, he had to be somewhere, and we didn\u2019t get a chance to chat after loading up. Since I was wearing my bike helmet (no Kitty Hawk<\/em> designation, though I might have to fix that), I let him know I was also Navy (\u201973-77). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Veterans are NOT Strangers<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Last week after my wife & I went for a walk (inside the cool, air-conditioned mall; it was 95 degrees outside<\/em>), we stopped for ice cream. BTW, it\u2019s about 1\u00bd miles around the inside of the mall, if you also walk through the big department stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      There was another gentleman and his pre-teen grandson eating ice cream, too. I was wearing my Kitty Hawk<\/em> ball cap. A few minutes after we sat down, they finished and got up ready to leave. He stopped at our table and asked the years I was aboard Kitty Hawk<\/em>. We talked for a while\u2014he was former Army (Armored), stationed in Germany. He was a few years younger than we were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The thing that impressed me was that while we were eating ice cream, he had pulled out his phone and Googled \u201cKitty Hawk<\/em>\u201d before talking with us. I\u2019m not sure why, but it made for some great conversation with another veteran\u2026 even though he was<\/em> Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      We all joke about the different branches in the military. And the Internet certainly has its share of military memes and jokes. But when it comes down to it, we\u2019re all <\/em>veterans, and we all served in one capacity or another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The military ball cap can be an intro or a conversation starter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Priorities at This Age<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      It got me to thinking about an old analogy I used to teach my second- and third-year law students at the University of Florida College of Law<\/strong> (I was an adjunct professor and co-taught, \u201cLaw Practice Management<\/strong>\u201d for 8 years). This was a popular class at UFLaw, usually capped at 50 students. Our goal was to teach law students how to manage their law practice, whether they\u2019d be a solo practitioner, work for a large law firm or a corporate law department, or a government agency. There were basic tools and skills they needed to know. On top of that, it was important for them to understand that being a lawyer would also stress their lives and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      It\u2019s not my<\/em> analogy, but I first read about this from Steven Covey<\/strong>, \u201cThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d I had picked it up when I began my legal technology consulting career back in the early \u201890s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      During the Balance of Life<\/em> class (we taught this toward the end of the semester), I brought a glass bowl and placed it on the table. I began the lecture by asking the students what they thought they\u2019d be doing when practicing law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Several smarties<\/em> stated \u201cmaking money.\u201d Of course, that\u2019s one thing. Back then, many lawyers billed by the hour, so it was important to track time throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I described a typical day of what they may expect. A lawyer may have, on average, say, 30-50 active<\/em> clients, all wanting something by a certain time. That means the lawyer typically works on multiple projects throughout the day, including many (MANY) interruptions, either by phone, by email, by staff, or by other attorneys. Everything seemed to be important at THAT time of the interruption. In some of the larger firms, young lawyers are expected to bill 8-10 hours a day (that’s BILL; they quickly learn they need to put in many more hours during a normal work day). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      As we went through the scenario, I\u2019d drop a small pebble into the glass jar for each of those examples. It wasn\u2019t too long before the glass jar was almost full with small pebbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Then I asked the students what they thought were the important things in their lives. After the first few \u201cgraduating from law school\u201d and \u201cgetting a job\u201d comments, they got serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cYour health,\u201d one student called out. \u201cBingo,\u201d I said. \u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cYour family,\u201d another student called out. \u201cBingo again.\u201d This class had promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Several others blurted out other things, including friends, careers, happiness, finance, faith\u2026 One law student who\u2019d served with the Marines called out, \u201ca sense of purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I then pulled out several large rocks and explained that these large rocks represent those important things in their lives\u2026 the things we just discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I put them into the glass jar, but guess what? There wasn\u2019t enough room in the jar to hold the large rocks\u2026 the important things in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I pulled out the big rocks and placed them to the side. I then poured out all the constant \u201cinterruptions,\u201d that is, the smaller pebbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I then put the big rocks in first, followed by the smaller pebbles. Guess what? They all fit<\/em> inside the glass bowl. I then pulled out a small cup of sand and poured that in with still room for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When I was done, I asked the class, \u201cWhat am I demonstrating here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      One smart-ass 2L spoke up. \u201cThe point is, no matter how full your schedule is, you can always fit more things into it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cNo! Wrong answer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The Marine spoke up, loud and clear. \u201cThe point is that if you don\u2019t<\/em> put the big rocks in first (that is, take care of the important things in your life), you\u2019ll never<\/em> get to all the smaller, less important things<\/em> into your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I\u2019ve also heard (that means I read it somewhere on the internet) that people tend to run into three problems when they think about their<\/em> priorities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. They have too many priorities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. They do not or cannot differentiate the truly important priorities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. For any number of reasons, they let other less important things get in the way of focusing on what really<\/em> matters.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Someone smarter than me (maybe Air Bos’n CWO2 Ty Roebuck) once told me, \u201cChet, if you have eight priorities, you have no<\/em> priorities.\u201d I didn\u2019t get it at the time. But it didn\u2019t take me long to figure it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        At this stage in my life (I\u2019m nearing 70), the things that are important haven\u2019t really <\/em>changed, the priorities haven\u2019t changed, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What\u2019s changed is that I no longer worry about crap I have no control over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Love life, be kind, and try to help out when I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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        \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

        Andy Adkins<\/strong>\u00a0is a US Navy veteran (\u201973-77) and the author of several books, including\u00a0Three Years, Eleven Months, & 29 Days, But Who’s Counting<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. His newest novel,\u00a0NEVER FORGET<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, is the story of\u00a0A Vietnam Veteran\u2019s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness<\/em>;\u00a0NEVER FORGET<\/strong>\u00a0is offered as a FREE (PDF, eBook format) download. Adkins also writes a weekly blog,\u00a0\u201cA Veteran\u2019s Journey.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Jos\u00e9 Narosky.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. The Last Detail (1973)<\/strong>, Mulhall (Otis Young).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Harper Valley P.T.A.<\/em> (1968),<\/strong> Jeannie C. Riley; written by Tom T. Hall.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

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