My First Navy Reunion After 44 years
2-28-15
Just had the best 7 hours in a very long time. I met with 3 of 7 others from our SEAL support team in Viet Nam 1970/71. Until about a year ago I had not spoken with any of them. One found me and I found the others. Last Oct. we scheduled a reunion in Corpus Christi for today.
Now this is one of the things retirement and a motorhome give you the freedom to do. It's not all about escaping cold weather or sight seeing. Although those two are near the top of the list, visits like today don't just create new memories, they refresh long forgotten ones.
When we returned in April of 71, our country was tired of the war and so many had been affected by the casualties and wounded. The peace demonstrations were at their peak and members of the military were looked on with disdain. Our group like so many others bottled up our memories left our units and spoke not a word of our experiences for 44 years.
It was great therapy to look at over 200 pictures. Each one brought back a memory and with 4 of us to contribute our version, the unembellished truth came out. I've seen movies and heard many stories about the lifelong brotherhood serving in a war establishes. But, there is nothing like experiencing it first hand.
We had lots of fun seeing ourselves as 20 year olds with all our hair and none of it white. Catching up on each other's non Navy careers, families, and how retirement years are being spent was also great.
Once again I'm proud to have served my country and glad I had these guys to watch my back.
It was sure worth our trip from NH.
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