{"id":7714,"date":"2025-04-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=7714"},"modified":"2025-04-07T11:05:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T15:05:12","slug":"westpac-75-coming-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/westpac-75-coming-home\/","title":{"rendered":"#190\u2014Westpac \u201975: Heading Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who said, <em>\u201cWhen I die, remember how I lived.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In what movie (and who said it) did we hear, <em>\u201cThere\u2019s no place like home.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In what song (and who sang it) did we hear:<br><em>I&#8217;ve been through love<\/em><br><em>I&#8217;ve been through some pain<\/em><br><em>I know changes in my life<\/em><br><em>Now I know what&#8217;s meaningful<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m writing a multi-part series of articles about a US Navy cruise in the Pacific, commonly known as a \u201cWestpac.\u201d I made one Westpac in 1975. It made quite an impression on me and it\u2019s something I love to write about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you missed the prior blog posts, check them out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/185-westpac-75\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Westpac \u201975<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/186-westpac-75-flight-ops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Westpac \u201975: Flight Ops<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/187-westpac-75-transit-to-pi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Westpac \u201975: Transit to PI<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/188-westpac-75-pi-liberty-call\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Westpac \u201975: Liberty Call<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/189-westpac-75-its-not-just-a-job\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Westpac \u201975: It&#8217;s Not Just a Job&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WESTPAC<\/strong>\u2014A US Navy deployment from the west coast to the western Pacific Ocean involving a variety of ships, including aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines, as well as aircraft and other supporting units. Back in my day (mid \u201870s), the forward deployment base was Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines. Currently, the forward deployment base is Yokosuka, Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Long Cruise Home<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/49-westpac-75-after-six-months-were-coming-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">We left PI on Thanksgiving Day<\/a>, November 26, 1975. The trip back to the US would take a few weeks, with a planned stop in Hawaii. As before on the trip over, we established the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/33-launch-the-alert-5\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alert 5s<\/a><\/strong> and, as anticipated, had several Russian reconnaissance aircraft and trawlers keep an eye on us. We were still in the <strong>Cold War<\/strong> era and nobody at the time knew when that might end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I still had my 0600 spot, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/39-good-morning-to-ya-kitty-hawk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Country Chet Adkins<\/a>,\u201d on KRAL radio. Funny thing\u2026 on the way <em>to<\/em> PI, my morning \u201cwake up\u201d song was \u201c<strong>Yakety Sax<\/strong>,\u201d by Chet Atkins. On the way back to the states, I began playing Merle Haggard\u2019s \u201c<strong>If We Make It Through December<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we got to Hawaii, I learned the trip from Hawaii to San Diego would be a \u201c<strong>Tiger Cruise<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During this short cruise, <em>Kitty Hawk<\/em> sailors\u2019 sons, fathers, and brothers (no women) could come aboard and sail with us back to San Diego. What a great idea\u2014see what dad does at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the catapult officers was soon to retire from the Navy and his ten-year-old son was on board. It\u2019s a tradition on an aircraft carrier that when the Shooter leaves, he launches his flight deck boots off the catapult. It was heartwarming to watch the Shooter and his son go through the routine of the launch, including the final salute to the boots, the hands in the air, swinging fingers, and then the launch of the boots. The kid had such a great time mimicking his dad, and it brought back a lot of memories of me and my dad when I was that age.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"745\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/LaunchShooterBoots.jpg?resize=600%2C745&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/LaunchShooterBoots.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/LaunchShooterBoots.jpg?resize=242%2C300&amp;ssl=1 242w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the way back from Hawaii, we could also order up to a gallon of liquor, tax-free. We would be able to pick it up when we pulled into San Diego. I ordered only one bottle of bourbon. I guess I could have ordered more and sold it to someone who maxed out, but I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About 0500 the morning we were to pull into San Diego, word was passed that we could pick up our liquor orders. I didn\u2019t go get mine; I\u2019d pick it up later. However, many of the guys who ordered got theirs. Of course, you were <em>not<\/em> supposed to drink aboard the ship, but several of the guys got really shitfaced before pulling into port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>San Diego<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019d experienced coming into port several times in PI, Japan, and Hong Kong (though we anchored out in the bay &amp; rode shuttles into port). But I\u2019d never experienced a homecoming for a Navy ship. And let me tell you, it was quite the homecoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We pulled into San Diego about 0800 on December 15, 1975, the day <em>before<\/em> my twenty-first birthday. It was a beautiful morning and coming through the bay, passing Point Loma on the port side and the Naval Air Station on the right, it felt like coming home. We had been on the WESTPAC cruise for what seemed like forever and other than Hawaii, this would be the first time in six months I had stepped foot on American soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/USSKittyHawk_ManningRails.jpg?resize=800%2C452&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7718\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/USSKittyHawk_ManningRails.jpg?resize=1024%2C579&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/USSKittyHawk_ManningRails.jpg?resize=300%2C170&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/USSKittyHawk_ManningRails.jpg?resize=768%2C434&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/USSKittyHawk_ManningRails.jpg?w=1320&amp;ssl=1 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sailors man the rails aboard USS Kitty Hawk. March 2007.<br>US Navy Photo. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a ship comes back to home port from an overseas tour, we man the rails, another formal Navy tradition. That means that everyone participating dresses in the uniform of the day. In this case, we wore winter blues. Sailors line up arm\u2019s length, called <strong>Dress Right<\/strong>, around the edge of the flight deck, facing out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the ship was coming in, they\u2019re usually at parade rest unless there is a special memorial, such as the <strong>USS Arizona Memorial <\/strong>in Pearl Harbor, at which time they would come to attention at the appropriate time. But coming into San Diego, it was more relaxed. I felt a lot of pride and was happy to be coming back to the states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we approached the pier, we saw hundreds of Navy wives and children waving with signs of \u201cWelcome Home, We Love You!\u201d The signalmen on deck were signaling to their wives, who were signaling back. We did not have cell phones back then, so everyone with anyone was desperately looking over the crowd until they spotted a familiar face. Then you could see the joy in their eyes and the frantic waving, \u201cI\u2019m here, I\u2019m here.\u201d It was very touching and emotional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new fathers got off first and the moms and their babies were greeted with open arms and tears\u2014lots of joyful tears. Even some of the older guys staying on the ship were tearing up. It was such a wholesome sight and even though I was still only twenty years old without a wife or girlfriend, it was a touching scene. The reunions are very heart-warming. While a few of the wives had flown to the <a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/20-port-call-philippines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Philippines<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/43-port-call-hong-kong\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hong Kong<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/23-rough-seas-sea-of-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Japan<\/a> for a brief visit with their husbands, this was the first time many of them had seen each other in six months. It was truly wonderful to see so much love and affection in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/KH_Westpac74_Return-1.jpg?resize=800%2C533&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/KH_Westpac74_Return-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/KH_Westpac74_Return-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/KH_Westpac74_Return-1.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/KH_Westpac74_Return-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">USS Kitty Hawk returning from Westpac &#8217;74.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Memorable Moments<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Far too many to mention in a short blog post, but here goes, in no particular order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Flight Ops<\/strong>\u2013<em>Nothing<\/em> compares to the excitement, the challenges, and the danger of working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. NOTHING!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cultural Differences<\/strong>\u2013PI was the first country I visited outside the US. We were in and out of PI seven times, since it was our forward deployment port. I got used to the customs, the food &amp; drink, and the culture. But I also got to visit Hong Kong and Japan, both vastly different in culture &amp; customs. It gave me a much better understanding of \u201ctraditions,\u201d something that would help guide me through both my career(s) and my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One lesson I learned about food in foreign countries\u2026 if it tastes good, <em>don\u2019t<\/em> ask what it is. Many times, once you know what you\u2019re eating, it may not taste as good as <em>before<\/em> you knew. So\u2026 I don\u2019t bother to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/F14-Tomcat_Sunrise.jpg?resize=800%2C522&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"F-14 Tomcat aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)\" class=\"wp-image-4202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/F14-Tomcat_Sunrise.jpg?resize=1024%2C668&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/F14-Tomcat_Sunrise.jpg?resize=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/F14-Tomcat_Sunrise.jpg?resize=768%2C501&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/F14-Tomcat_Sunrise.jpg?resize=1536%2C1001&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/F14-Tomcat_Sunrise.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">F-14 Tomcat aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Clear Views<\/strong>\u2013I\u2019ve mentioned this many times in past blogs, but watching the <a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/47-those-memorable-moments-part-1-the-flight-deck\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sun rise early in the morning while at sea and watching the sun set <\/a>on the very same day is nothing short of spectacular. The clear skies, the fresh air (well, except when you\u2019re standing behind a JBD [<strong>Jet Blast Deflector<\/strong>] protecting you from the exhaust of a jet in full afterburner), and wide-open seas makes me glad that I\u2019m alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/36-gone-in-an-instant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Death on the Flight Deck<\/a><\/strong>\u2013I wrote about this earlier and don\u2019t mean to dwell, but it\u2019s something that will always remain with me\u2026 just how precious life is. <em>Never<\/em> take it for granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Friends for Life<\/strong>\u2013When you leave on a cruise, you have a few friends. During those long workdays and great liberty times, you get to know people\u2026 <em>really<\/em> know them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You leave on the cruise as shipmates &amp; friends, but return as family. That\u2019s just how it is in the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until we meet again,<br>Andy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-10d081ebe197b3146b6e17e4a62b6c33 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000030\">Andy Adkins is a\u00a0<strong>US Navy veteran<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201973-77) and the author of several books (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azadkinsiii.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.azadkinsiii.com<\/a>), many of which are free downloads (PDF, eBook format).\u00a0He is currently retired and lives in Gainesville, Florida with his wife and life-long soulmate, Becky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Previous Blogs mentioned in the Post:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/185-westpac-75\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#185\u2014Westpac \u201875<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/186-westpac-75-flight-ops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#186\u2014Westpac \u201975 Flight Ops<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/187-westpac-75-transit-to-pi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#187\u2014Westpac \u201975 Transit to PI<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/188-westpac-75-pi-liberty-call\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#188\u2014Westpac \u201975 Liberty Call<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/189-westpac-75-its-not-just-a-job\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#189\u2014Westpac \u201975 It\u2019s Not Just a Job\u2026<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/49-westpac-75-after-six-months-were-coming-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#49\u2014Westpac \u201975: After Six Months, We\u2019re Coming Home<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/33-launch-the-alert-5\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#33\u2014Launch the Alert 5!<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/39-good-morning-to-ya-kitty-hawk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#39\u2014Good Mornin\u2019 to ya, Kitty Hawk!<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/20-port-call-philippines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#20\u2014Port Call: Philippines<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/43-port-call-hong-kong\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#43\u2014Port Call: Hong Kong<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/23-rough-seas-sea-of-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#23\u2014Rough Seas: Sea of Japan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/47-those-memorable-moments-part-1-the-flight-deck\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#47\u2014Memorable Moments, Part 1: The Flight Deck<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/36-gone-in-an-instant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#36\u2014Gone in an Instant<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>Answers<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rick Georges<\/strong> (R.I.P.)\u2013fellow legal technology consultant, outstanding lawyer, and poet extraordinaire, who recently passed away. I will miss my friend, <em>The Future Lawyer<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Wizard of Oz<\/strong> (1939), Dorothy (Judy Garland). <em>Ed note: yeah, this one was easy<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>I\u2019m Coming Home<\/strong> (2006), Lionel Ritchie; written by Eugene Booker &amp; Lionel Ritchie.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) I\u2019m writing a multi-part series of articles about a US Navy cruise in the Pacific, commonly known as a \u201cWestpac.\u201d I made one Westpac in 1975. It made quite an impression on me and it\u2019s&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/westpac-75-coming-home\/\" class=\"readmore\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">#190\u2014Westpac \u201975: Heading Home<\/span><span class=\"fa fa-angle-double-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7717,"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","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[59],"tags":[106,151,83,17,95,122,112,205,7,146,84],"class_list":["post-7714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-navy","tag-abh","tag-alert-5","tag-crash-salvage","tag-flight-deck","tag-hong-kong","tag-japan","tag-philippines","tag-tiger-cruise","tag-uss-kitty-hawk","tag-v-1-division","tag-westpac","content-layout-excerpt-thumb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>#190\u2014Westpac \u201975: Heading Home &#8212; A Veteran&#039;s Journey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After 6 months at sea on a Westpac cruise, Kitty Hawk heads home to San Diego. My one and only Westpac, but what a memorable one.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/westpac-75-coming-home\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"#190\u2014Westpac \u201975: Heading Home &#8212; A Veteran&#039;s Journey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After 6 months at sea on a Westpac cruise, Kitty Hawk heads home to San Diego. 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