Sunday, November 27, 2022

How early did your Life’s dream start?

 One of a Kind:


1980 BMW M1

For today:

I don’t remember Pearl Harbor.  But I do remember my brothers volunteering and joining the Navy. That is the first time I remember being PROUD of my brothers, I was 3 or 4 years old when they were off to WAR! I admired them in uniforms. It changed my view from big brothers to HEROs in uniform.

So I always wanted a uniform.  I wanted to see the world. That dream never left me, even at 16 I tried to lie and forge to get in the USMC.  I was doing great until the swearing in ceremony, when I was caught.

 The SBI agents scared this kid to death. Threats of charges I had accumulated…………… “BUT the Corps has agreed to forget it, if you promise to join when you are of age.

Of course I said, “YES SIR I promise!”  LOL  Then of course on my 17th BD I headed back. ;-)

That was the beginning of my adult life. Let me tell you.  Parris Island (Pleasure Island) can ALMOST kill a dream LOL.  In the Corps I did make a Mediterranean Cruise, visiting Spain, Italy and Greece.

There is a lot of story in between, but after my release from the USMC, in a few weeks that I joined the Air Force. We lived in only two states: Mississippi and Missouri.

An Airman looking at his first son....

Taking a break from the military after the USAF, I found a home………..

The song, “I joined the Navy to see the World!” is a fact. Not every sailor gets to, but I did get to travel a lot.

(That is a hand carved meerschaum pipe from Turkey!)

BUT to my dream, it did come true. ....... The Veteran gets a lot of attention in the USA. But the forgotten heroes are the families, especially the wives who have the weight of the family during deployments.  I am afraid too, that the children of the military are also BENT because the lack of two parents and the many moves making the lack of life time friends.

My LADY has never complained once, and she has carried some heavy weight.

Finally, a chief and his lady!

I think in every life there must be a few wishes for ‘Do-overs,’ but all in all, in this, the twilight of my life; mine are few. God and Life have been VERY good to me (In spite of myself!).

(Sorry to waste your time, but thanks for stopping by, it makes me smile, especially the comments. (Loved the last couple days especially!)

How early did you have THE dream?

Nite Shipslog

PS:

4 comments:

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Thank you for a wonderful story and for serving your Country, Jack. We should be proud of our Forces and the work they do to protect us.

God bless you and your family.

Woody said...

Good Post, I had the "Dream" at about 13 or 14 years old that I wanted to be a Policeman, I wanted to be a State Trooper, took the Test Later and made the "List", But my Test Score did not put me high enough to get Called to Report, I did get into 2 Interviews and Background checks which was close but "No Cigar" ! I did score High on the Test to be called by several Cities and Villages for a Police Officer and did succeed in putting in over 25 years in Law Enforcement. And made it it PO1 as a MAA in the Navy ! You 2 take care, sending down Love and Prayers from the North ! Gary and Anna Mae !

Mevely317 said...

As ever, I LOVE these olden photographs!
Mostly, I'm envious of your laser-sharp focus and get-r-done. Even at 18, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life ... and it showed. (LOL) Thankfully, I discovered real satisfaction supporting other, more driven individuals. In most cases, it paid well - both monetarily and in (more important) in their appreciation. Nope, I've no regrets.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Like you I was in my teens when I started dreaming of having a large family, that is when I met and was engaged to DDH. My dreams cam true when I became a mom of 6 sons and 1 daughter. That was the happiest time of my life. From seeing one of my sons go through those long deployments I know just how bad it is on family life. Sad but true some marriages end in divorce. All military families live a hard life. It takes some special people like your Sherry to survive it all.