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Part Two of Answers to A#1’s questions… ------ >2. How in heck, would a blue water sailor find >��� himself
able to be attractive to a young christian >��� lady
and be able to work that into marriage? That's another long story. my wife's brother
was one of my Pioneers back in the early 80's when I was the
Sr. Commander at Calvary Temple A/G (Outpost 104 in NCN). which has since folded up due to it's Pastor's belief that Rangers has no place
in today's culture.� We had over 125 boys when I was there.�� (By the way, I found some old records of
that outpost from the early 70's and
found that my father-in-law was my very first commander!) At any rate. my
wife always showed up at every event we had.�
She had a real crush on me at the
time.� I didn't give her the time of day
though, since she was nearly 6 years
younger than I was. After about 3 years in the navy (Onboard USS John Young DD-973), I got
a letter from her out of the blue, I was scheduled to go on
leave a few weeks later, so I offered to 'do lunch' when I was in town.� From our first date of "lunch" to
the day I proposed the days totaled
11.� We got married 4 months later, and have been married nearly 13 years
now.� She definitely did her term as a Navy Wife. 3 kids in diapers with
a husband at sea on the opposite coast of all her relatives and friends.
she earned her stripes for certain. �>�� Ranger DJ floored me by starting up a RR
outpost �>�� at a �>�� 1971 and felt 1 million miles from home. I too held several positions while on sea duty.� In Senior Commander of a fine outpost that is now run by Steve Barnhill (#106), and I also served as the Sectional Rally Coordinator under the leadership of ole' Bearwaller. When I moved to Commander for an outpost there until they asked me to be "more
faithful" in setting an example in my
attendance (Knowing full well that I was on Sea duty). During both my even taught one onboard ship to a
few guys who wanted to be ready to join outposts when the got out of
the Navy.� Also taught weekly Bible study and ran Sunday services on
the ship every week (on both ships). (Since I was credentialed, the Squadron Chaplain let me run things
while he went to all the other squadron
ships). I always visited outposts everywhere around the world that I could find one.� I even spent some time with Nick Choo, the (then) National Commander of >3. I wonder from yur perspective what the
legacy >��� is of the Viet-nam era Navy that you replaced? >��� (*I have my own
opinion<G>) One thing is for certain. Respect for rank and obedience of orders is not taught, nor is it enforced
the way it used to be back in your day. I've even had full Commanders question the Authority of an Admiral, right in front of me (an E6 at
the time).� It was me. the
E6 who had to remind the Commander who he was
talking to.� all
over a lousy ID Card, and his place in line being
usurped by the Admiral who didn't have to wait in line like he did.� what ever happened
to RHIP???� :-) The peace time Navy is complacent, worried mainly about sexual harassment and safety stand downs
every other week at the expense of actually getting the job done.
Not to mention the introduction of females on combat vessels.� I can't speak for or against that since it started just after I went to
shore duty.� I did serve with females on shore duty and had zero issues
with them, and both my Chief, Commander Master Chief, OIC, and CO were all female. with zero issues due to their gender.� (Though the CMC and I did not get along in
the slightest. but that was a personality issue, not
a gender issue). In fact, my old OIC and I still keep in contact.� She's a CO down in friends. Most of the Officers and CO's of these days seem to all be academy
runts who don't know one end of a rifle
from the other, and certainly have no clue what combat an stress really
is.� (not that I
know much of it either. though
I've been shot at a few times in the Gulf during the Don't get me wrong, I've met and served with many officers who I'd
never have issue with in the heat of
battle. unfortunately, there were a MANY out there who thought they had
something to prove. with there Butter Bars and oak leafs, they mellowed out. Respect and obedience?? Many times, I had marines working details under me (as an E6) and they obeyed every utterance out of my
mouth without question.� but even the lowly E1 fresh out of boot camp
questioned everything, worried about everything being
"unfair" and talking back to a senior petty officer, or even officer became common place. Camaraderie is virtually non-existent in the forms it was back in the day.� I expect that there will be few, if any
reunions of any present day fleet sailors in years to
come like there were during the WW's, I DO have some lasting long friendships though.� In fact, the one E4 that used to work for me on the
USS Nassau (LHA-4) who got mad at me giving him an order (and threw a
chair at me). we have been the best of friends since.� He's now a level headed, Bible believing CPA
from North R, PN1(SW) Burns, USN Honorably Discharged, 1996 |
