Interesting timing for Jane and I. We are in San Diego for a few days and in looking at the map of attractions, featured prominently is the old USS Midway. Across the Coronado Bridge is Coronado and Naval Air Station, where I lived for a short while in 1975 with my young, pregnant wife, who went into labor while watching "Jaws" at the base theater. My son was born at Balboa Naval Hospital. I was out of pocket less than $20, and that was for her meals at the hospital.
On the way down the coast to San Diego, we passed by Pendleton Marine Base, where I trained for two weeks in 1969, before heading off to Vietnam. The marines were conducting exercises on the beach, using a VTOL among other pieces of equipment and personnel. Offshore shrouded in fog was a Navy warship of some kind (couldn't quite make out the profile). I told Jane that it suddenly took me back 48 years in time and stirred some strong feelings of pride in my country, its Navy, and the small role I played in it.
Yes, indeed; hats off to our forward-deployed military and to their spouses, who also endure the hardships of separation from loved ones, frequent relocations, and isolation from the civilian communities we serve.