{"id":7968,"date":"2025-12-18T16:44:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=7968"},"modified":"2025-12-18T16:44:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:44:24","slug":"206-those-things-that-stay-with-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/206-those-things-that-stay-with-you\/","title":{"rendered":"#206\u2014Those Things That Stay With You \u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

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  1. Who said, \u201cOnly I can change my life. No one can do it for me.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. In what movie\/show did we hear, \u201cI love meeting people\u2019s moms. It\u2019s like reading an instruction manual on why they\u2019re nuts.\u201d?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What song, and who sang it, did we hear:
    Last Christmas<\/em>
    I gave you my heart<\/em>
    But the very next day, you gave it away<\/em>
    This year<\/em>
    To save me from tears<\/em>
    I’ll give it to someone special<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    By the time you read this blog post, I\u2019ll have just turned a young<\/em> 71 years old. I don\u2019t know about you, but when I make another trip around the sun, I count my many blessings \u2026 multiple times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Even though I left the Navy in July 1977 after four years (actually, Three Years, eleven months, & 29 Days\u2014But Who\u2019s Counting<\/a><\/em>), there are many things that stayed with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They say you can take the man out of the Navy, but you can\u2019t take the Navy out of the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Besides some of the \u201csalty\u201d language<\/a> I picked up, there are a few more things that stuck with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Feeling a gust of wind \u2013 bow flying<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Periodically, I\u2019ll be outside, either working in the yard or taking a walk, when a slight gust of wind hits me. Many times\u2014especially if it\u2019s a continuous gust\u2014I\u2019ll close my eyes and remember those days on the flight deck, up near the bow, sixty feet above the water, standing with several other airdales and \u201cbow flying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    I tried explaining that to my wife and kids early on, but once the movie Titanic<\/em><\/strong> came out and \u2026 you know the scene \u2026 Jack & Rose on the bow, they finally \u201cgot it.\u201d It\u2019s not the same as I remembered on the flight deck, but still, it gave them some idea of what I was talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When we go on a cruise (whether ocean cruise or river cruise), I\u2019ll be on the top deck much of the time, mostly up toward the bow. It provides a few glimpses of fond memories of my time aboard Kitty Hawk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Smell of jet fuel \u2013 airports<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s no way I can be in and around an airport without smelling jet fuel. Back in my day during the mid-70s, Kitty Hawk\u2019s<\/em> squadrons used JP-4, JP-5, and aviation gasoline for various aircraft. Whether you\u2019re in the airport parking lot or walking the jetway to board, the smell permeates the air.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"\"
    F-14D Tomcat (VF-41) prepares to launch with full afterburners, during night flight operations aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Even though I may be lugging baggage, I still remember those days on the flight deck \u2026 standing behind the JBD (Jet Blast Deflector), with an F-4 Phantom, an A-7 Corsair, an A-6 Intruder, or an A-3 Whale at full power (sometimes in afterburners), and \u201cwatching\u201d the fumes flow over the JBD, hoping it holds until lowered by the JBD operator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Otherwise, it could be, \u201cHasta la vista, Chet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sound of helicopters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only one who can tell by sound<\/em> the difference between a civilian helicopter and a military helicopter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most of the ones I was around during my time in the service (\u201973-77) were the SH-3 Sea King helos, a few CH-47 Chinooks and CH-46 Sea Knights. The latter two were used primarily for transferring goods during a Vertical Replenishment.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

    Most of the ones that fly over my house are hospital air care helos and a few other civilian helos. Periodically, we\u2019ll see a military helicopter flying through the airspace. But there is a distinct sound, more of a heavy \u201cthump thump\u201d sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Geez, I sound like I\u2019m talking to my 2-year-old grandson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of my Army & Marine fellow veterans also notice these helo sounds. Sometimes \u2026 it brings back experiences they\u2019d rather not remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I certainly understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Folding my clothes<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, I still fold my T-shirts and skivvies the same way as I did in boot camp. I\u2019ll admit it \u2026 I\u2019m \u201cold school Navy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One thing I\u2019ve found helpful when I travel, though. Instead of folding the \u201cold-fashioned way,\u201d I roll my clothes. That way, I can fit more clothes into my carry-on (I hate checking bags on flights) and have room for a few more souvenirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Back in the Navy days, we ironed our uniforms as well as our utilities. I personally didn\u2019t mind\u2014it gave me a few moments of peace \u2026 doing something monotonous. Even when I left the Navy and worked for the fire department, I still ironed my uniforms. My wife once asked if I wanted her to iron and I simply said, \u201cThanks, but I\u2019m the one who wears them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But these days? No ironing needed, and to tell you the truth, that\u2019s fine by me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sound of sirens<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I can usually tell the difference between an ambulance siren, a police\/sheriff siren, and a fire engine siren. Why, pray tell, do I mention this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Maybe it\u2019s because I was a firefighter for six-plus years: four years in the Navy as a Crash crewman and 2\u00bd years as a city firefighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That adrenaline rush<\/a> always stays with you, and when I hear or see a first responder heading down the road, I can instantly transport myself back to the time when I was that first responder<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s one of those things that never leave you. While I loved being a firefighter, I hated seeing the damage fires do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Crossing the street \u2013 head on a swivel<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    When you work on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, you have to keep your head on a swivel. There\u2019s so much going on during flight operations<\/a> that you can easily get blown down by an aircraft\u2019s jet exhaust without knowing what hit you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And yes\u2026 I\u2019ve been blown down several times. Most of the time, fellow Yellow Shirts will \u201csee\u201d it before the turning aircraft and warn you over the headset radio: \u201cChet, drop down.\u201d In which case, you have two choices: one, save yourself and drop down like you\u2019ve been warned, or two, look around to see who said it. I can\u2019t recall anyone ever yelling that warning as a joke. That\u2019s just something you don\u2019t do on the flight deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I ride my bike a lot and often trek 20-30 miles. I\u2019m not fast, but I enjoy the ride. I\u2019ve learned that while there are \u201cbike routes\u201d alongside traffic on the major roads in Gainesville, I do not trust drivers. So \u2026 I ride on the sidewalks and through the backstreet neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When crossing the road (most of the time at a red light), I\u2019ll look all ways \u2013 keeping my head on a swivel, just because I know someone isn\u2019t watching what they\u2019re doing. And it\u2019s not like someone is going to yell, \u201cChet, drop down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Helping others<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve mentioned this before in other posts, but I find that there is a reward in helping others who aren\u2019t as fortunate as I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019m part of the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) ERT (Early Response Team) that will often travel to areas recently devastated by natural disasters<\/a>. Here in Florida, that\u2019s usually hurricanes, floods, or fires. Sometimes we\u2019re on site for several days, and while we can\u2019t undo what\u2019s been done, we can provide some much-needed boots on the ground assistance and support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve been deployed many times over the past year, but this hurricane season, we were fortunate not to have been hit by a hurricane. I know there are other places that were hit, but we dodged this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, I\u2019ve also been able to work on other long-term projects through the Rebuild organization. I\u2019ve found that by doing these volunteer activities and helping my wife at times with hers, gives me another sense of purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And that, my friends, is important to me at this point in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s that time of the year again. When I was growing up, because my birthday was in mid-December, I had to wait an entire year to get any presents. My sister, on the other hand, was born in May, so she didn\u2019t have to wait as long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Rudolph<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    But those years are long gone. Now, I\u2019m just happy to be able to get out of bed in the morning, get into my usual routine, and continue my volunteer work, my writing, and my love of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All of us at \u201cA Veteran\u2019s Day<\/strong>\u201d wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays. Whether you celebrate or not, I wish you all good blessings for the coming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

    Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran<\/strong> (\u201973-77) and the author of several books (www.azadkinsiii.com<\/a>), many of which are free downloads (PDF, eBook format). He is currently retired and lives in Gainesville, Florida with his wife and life-long soulmate, Becky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Previous Blogs mentioned in this Post:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n