On 2/14/2025 at 8:24 PM, n4gix said:

"thank you sir for your service."

I truly wish I could say in return, "I wish I could say it was my pleasure, but that would be a lie." Instead, I simply reply "Thank you."

I think the proper ritual response is, "Thank you for your support." 

The people thanking us for our service genuinely think they're doing a good thing, and we might as well treat them as if they are.

Hook

Yes, Paul, I've seen that movie several times.  I make it a point to watch it whenever TCM plays it.

Not only WW2, but all of us who wore a uniform were changed after serving whether they went to the war zone or not.  Most shed their racism since we lived and worked and fought together and depended on each other to pull the load.  We came back more disciplined.  The military training taught us that.  Most of us returned with usable skills. 

A good example was when our ship returned us from Korea/Japan we docked at Treasure Island and those of us who had local families had them waiting for us at the pier.  I had two buddies who were leaving the area for their homes the next day.  We were going to spend our last liberty together that night in San Francisco.

Hugged my mom when walked off the ship and introduced her to my buddies.  She became very disappointed when I told her I was not going home with her that evening because my buddies and were going out on the town for the last time.  I told her I would see her the next morning.  I hated break her heart like that but we deserved a night of liberty by ourselves since we had been through a lot together and would probably never see each other again.

If you haven't been there you just can't understand.  And that was the point of "The Best Years of our Lives."

Noel

 

On 2/18/2025 at 5:31 PM, birdguy said:

Yes, Paul, I've seen that movie several times.  I make it a point to watch it whenever TCM plays it.

Not only WW2, but all of us who wore a uniform were changed after serving whether they went to the war zone or not.  Most shed their racism since we lived and worked and fought together and depended on each other to pull the load.  We came back more disciplined.  The military training taught us that.  Most of us returned with usable skills. 

A good example was when our ship returned us from Korea/Japan we docked at Treasure Island and those of us who had local families had them waiting for us at the pier.  I had two buddies who were leaving the area for their homes the next day.  We were going to spend our last liberty together that night in San Francisco.

Hugged my mom when walked off the ship and introduced her to my buddies.  She became very disappointed when I told her I was not going home with her that evening because my buddies and were going out on the town for the last time.  I told her I would see her the next morning.  I hated break her heart like that but we deserved a night of liberty by ourselves since we had been through a lot together and would probably never see each other again.

If you haven't been there you just can't understand.  And that was the point of "The Best Years of our Lives."

Noel

 

I understand completely. It was a bit like that when I was at sea. Every time I flew out to join a ship, be it Singapore or Japan or wherever, I left a bit of myself behind in the UK. And when I came home from the sea, I brought a bit more of the sea home with me. Not remotely comparable to the trauma of wartime service of course, but seafaring was such an odd way of life, with experiences that gradually accumulated and changed me. I eventually became a person apart, although in a benign and worldly way.

 

 

Yeh, Paul, I understand about sea duty.  Having crossed the Pacific twice aboard troops ships and on landing exercises in the Pacific (usually to Iwo Jima); once on a submarine, and I participated in the first transport of Marines from ship to shore by helicopter from a carrier in Thailand I spent a bit of time at sea.  In the Marines and later in the Air Force we had remote assignments...not like being at sea and sometimes a village to pull liberty in.

Did your ship use the US Navy Bases in Yokusuka (Japan) or Subic Bay (Philippines)?  Good liberty ports.  And Hing Kong, of course.

Noel

 

1 hour ago, birdguy said:

Did your ship use the US Navy Bases in Yokusuka (Japan) or Subic Bay (Philippines)?  Good liberty ports.  And Hing Kong, of course.

Noel

Been to both ports, Noel!  You can keep Subic Bay and Olongapo where the San Miguel beer is
half formaldehyde. 🤮

4 hours ago, birdguy said:

Yeh, Paul, I understand about sea duty.  Having crossed the Pacific twice aboard troops ships and on landing exercises in the Pacific (usually to Iwo Jima); once on a submarine, and I participated in the first transport of Marines from ship to shore by helicopter from a carrier in Thailand I spent a bit of time at sea.  In the Marines and later in the Air Force we had remote assignments...not like being at sea and sometimes a village to pull liberty in.

Did your ship use the US Navy Bases in Yokusuka (Japan) or Subic Bay (Philippines)?  Good liberty ports.  And Hing Kong, of course.

Noel

 

No, mate - I was an engineering officer with Shell Tankers (UK ) Ltd. I was all over the place - LNG tankers from Brunei to Japan every two weeks for two years ( Sodegaura, Negishi and Senboku ); the Baltic; the west African coast including Matadi up the Congo river; two VLCCs from the Gulf to Europe; lots of time doing small cargoes from Singapore around Thailand, Malaya and Sarawak, the Solomons and PNG; Beirut during the civil war; the Venezuelan coast then through the Panama Canal to Peru and the Pacific. Even got to the USSR in the Black Sea. Happy days ( and often not-so-happy ones, it must be said ).

One thing that might be of interest - we were bringing liquified methane up to Japan from Brunei, via the Palawan passage, and US Navy helicopters had been flying round us most of the morning. The second mate's wife was sunbathing by the pool, but I'm sure that had nothing to do with it. Anyway, down our starboard side came the USS Midway. She flew off a guard helicopter, then launched an E-2 Hawkeye. It's the only time I've ever seen a USN carrier operating at sea, and mightily impressive it was too.

Dang, Paul! Your itinerary reads like it's from an epic noir thriller set in many exotic locations. 😄 

You could romanticize the absolute heck out of that list.

What d'ya think? Spy thriller? Chasing smugglers? Pirates? Political intrigue? If you write it, I'll read it. 😄

Hook

5 hours ago, LHookins said:

Dang, Paul! Your itinerary reads like it's from an epic noir thriller set in many exotic locations. 😄 

You could romanticize the absolute heck out of that list.

What d'ya think? Spy thriller? Chasing smugglers? Pirates? Political intrigue? If you write it, I'll read it. 😄

Hook

🤣 It'd probably be a guide to bars of the world, Larry. I'll let you know when it's published!  In the meantime, look for a book called " In The Treacle Mine" by J W Richardson -  he lived the life I did.  I caught the tail end of what you might call 'traditional' seafaring - it all high-pressure fast turnarounds now, with dry ships and little time ashore.

2 hours ago, Paul K said:

🤣 It'd probably be a guide to bars of the world, Larry.

So your hero (or anti-hero) is a hard drinking smuggler or whatever. 😄 

 

2 hours ago, Paul K said:

I'll let you know when it's published!

Send it in digital format and I'll be one of your beta readers or proofreaders. Gratis.

 

2 hours ago, Paul K said:

In the meantime, look for a book called " In The Treacle Mine" by J W Richardson

This is exactly the kind of book I'd love to read, but my eyes are such that I'd prefer a digital version. I may spring for the paperback anyway.  Thanks for the recommend.

Hook

15 hours ago, charliearon said:

Olongapo where the San Miguel beer is
half formaldehyde.

Talk about a cesspool of humanity.  They must have the ugliest women in all of Asia.

Noel