My Navy Adventure

As a kid growing up on the prairies of Manitoba I had visions of what the ocean looked like, but had never seen one in real life. Once joining the US Navy in Washington state I found out soon enough. I went through boot camp in San Diego, and what an experience that was - YIKES. During my first sea trials I found out the ocean may be a pretty sight, but being miles off shore on the water required significant purging of your stomach until you got used to the rolling waves. Being like most young sailors I tried to disguise my sea sickness but there were times when all heck broke loose in my body, and I therefore spent many an hour with my head hanging over the side of the ship. After about two weeks at sea your body starts to allow your stomach to settle down and you do get what they called "sea legs".

Shipboard life was like joining a new family, lots of guys missing home and their own families, willing to accept you as part of their new family through thick and thin. I will never in my life forget these sailors who helped me adjust to this shipboard life. I can actually say some of them went out of their way to force change on me.

They are still my lifetime heroes, after all, they took a skinny Canadian kid, helped him grow up fast, taught him the ways of Navy life, and accepted him as a part of their Navy family. The two years I spent aboard this ship changed my life forever. I came out of the Navy with instilled discipline and courage to face all that came my way. To this day I still communicate with members of my original crew, attend reunions with them, and still feel like part of their Navy family.

My journey towards a good retirement began after I received my honorable discharge in 1968.