Navy Birthday 2024
I enlisted in the Navy in my 24th year. It was pretty much an attempt to right my failing course of action and redirect my life toward something practical and forward looking. I did 14 weeks in boot camp due to my inability to run. The cause and effect relationship here was morbid obesity and smoking. I had lost 168 pounds to make the weight requirement for enlistment. I had stopped smoking when I disembarked the airplane at Orlando ...Then it was on to boot camp.
Suffice it to say my efforts at rehabilitating myself were way too little, too late on both the weight and smoking accounts. They took us out to the pool and 4 am and threw us in. I passed the swimming test fine and dandy. Then we came to the running test and I simply didn't have what it took. I remember my peripheral vision going dark and feeling as though I had left the body. This caused me to stop running whereby I failed and entered a process called "recycle" whereby the seal slavemasters took me out every day and ran me. Eventually I passed only to fail the next test. I didn't seem able to catch up on the physical requirements but I did lose a person from my frame during the interim.
After boot camp I went to Basic Electricity and Electronics doing courses at Orlando and Great Lakes Illinois. Then there was Fire Control Technician Class A School phases I and II. After that I went to the AN/SPG55-B track transmitter training and finally made it to the fleet.
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I served aboard the USS MacDonough along with a great many persons with whom I went to boot camp. This was after they told us during boot camp we would likely never see each other again after departing there. They were all there on my ship as well when they finished their training.
Aboard the 'Mighty Mac' I attempted to be "squared away". I didn't want any reports getting back to my daddy, Master Chief Williamson regarding any misbehavior so I pretty much towed the line without incident and was known as a "4-0" sailor by those in charge. It was there I met Chief Wayne J Mead, one of the finest human beings I'd ever met. He always wished me a happy birthday whenever the Navy's birthday came up aboard ship.
October 13 is the Navy's birthday. Time to recognize the active duty heroes serving the country in the capacity of sailors.
I would not have liked the Navy much had it not been for Wayne Mead and those others who tolerated and indulged my rude ass so well during my time aboard ship. It has left me sorry that I didn't endeavor to be the best sailor I could be while on active duty. I have since attempt penance and I support Navy causes vigorously for this reason.
Happy birthday United States Navy.
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