Originally Posted By: Reg# 43897
Thank you for your service Sir! Whilst I may be North of your border, I grew up alongside NAVFAC Argentia & my family made some life-long friends w/ members of the USN. There was some wide-eyed conversations that I recall experiencing in the presence of an old Naval Aviator. Used to fly the S2 Tracker. Was in the Cuban blockade, off Viet Nam, etc. There but for the Lord & NATO go all of us & people like Cpt. Tom Orr, USN (Rt'd), my cousin Cpt. Craig Blandford, RCAF (Rt'd, flew NATO AWACS last going off) & you Astro, took to the skies (& seas!) to stand guard for me. You didn't know me but you risked it all. For me. A young Newfoundland kid that learned to love the USN as a true Force for good in our world. Some may chide me for my youthful naivete on the subject but I truly disagree. You left your home & family to serve.
As I say to all those who have served & start to take their pension, "Long may you draw from the Pension Fund brother!"
John.
Thank you!
That is quite a memory. I doubt what I did will inspire anyone, but I think the key point of military service is the willingness to sign up and be sent wherever your country needs you to go. What you did, where you went, is less important to me than that first act: signing up.