Home coming

[Ags2000]

I just thought I'd share this with you guys, whoever is interested.

I've just been watching the home coming of the USS Shiloh and USS Mobile Bay at San Diego after a 9 month deployment and it brought back a flood of memories.

I'm a Navy Brat. For those that don't know, that means that I had a parent in the Navy. As I sat watching all of those excited families and sailors I had that feeling that would always come across whenever dad would get back from a cruise. Excitement, timid, relief, and sorrow. I know, thats a lot of mixed feelings.

I can remember while stationed in Japan being able to meet dad's ship at the pier. Man, for a kid that is really cool. It just takes SOOO long for the ship to finally dock and then for them to FINALLY be able to get off the ship. For me, that ws the hardest part. Being able to see my dad but not hug him yet. Forcing a kid to wait, but then when he finally comes off you get to go running up to him and it's just great.

Japan was the only port we were ever close enough to to see him when they docked so we usually had to wait until dad's squadron flew back to whatever base we were at, and man did we party. We would literally have a party right there at the airport. Tents would be set up for shade, there were trash cans full of sodas for the kids and beer for the adults. We'd all be out there for hours (usually because dad was on the last flight to get back). I kinda miss those days, but not really.

I loved the feeling of having such a huge family, but I hated him being gone so much...but you get used to it I guess. The one thing you have to do is NEVER expect them to come home on time. If you expect them to come home on time then you will be very disappointed when something happens that lengthens the deployment. My motto was I didn't believe he was coming home until I could hug him for myself.

While we were in Florida, there was one lady who always flew out to Norfolk to meet the guys coming back home. SHe would always tell the guys that she would have "cold beer at the pier" LOL I guess that was always their favorite. And sure enough, she always had a HUGE cooler filled with beer for the guys.

As I'm typing this I'm looking at a picture that was taken after dad came home from a 6 month cruise turned into a little over 9 months. Talk about a party we had when they finally got home. Dad is holding a beer, I'm holding a Dr. Pepper and you can't see what everybody else has...but those days right there made it ALL worth it.


D

[F*O*L 1988]

That's so cool!
I can understand what you mean about all those memories.
That must have been quite a day.

[Janice]

Wonderful heartwarming story Ags. Thanks for sharing it with us. Your Dad sounds like a great guy.

[Kitt]

Thanks for sharing your story Ags. I use to go with my folks when my brother shipped out for Vietnam. He went over three times. I picked him after one of his tours. My folks couldn't make it or something. I don't remember why they couldn't come. I know what you mean though about the ships not coming back on time. I went to get him without double checking to see if the ship was coming in. It didn't so it took two tries. That first time I had to drive back home by myself. I fell asleep at the wheel on the freeway. It was a close call to say the least. I always worried about him when he was away so I guess it would have been ironical if I ate the big one driving on the San Diego Freeway on the way from picking him up. He managed to survive in Vietnam and I lost it in San Diego? Lol.

[-*Leah*-]

Thats a great story, and I could see how it would be strange for you. My dad was in the military before I was born, so I don't remember nothing about it. I bet you all had a PAR-TAY when he got home !!! *lol*