07/07/2023
7 / 7 1982. 41 yes ago I headed to Navy-boot.
My Mom drove me over to the Recruiting Station then it was at Eastgate Mall. We lived like 5 miles away.
Your childhood is over once you say those goodbye’s.
I’ll find some way to celebrate.
That skinny naive 18 year old, 6’3” & maybe 160. The profile pick would be taken several weeks later, but that face wondering what would be in-store via my seasonin the Navy. When you make that trip taking the oath of service, you know your life is in the balance. Even in peace time some will not come home. We lost a pilot when I was on the Carrier, a bad landing & deep six, not even a body to recover.
While the struggles have been difficult & the cost was high for me, it remains a profound time in service to my Country, the Union.
My Dad was Navy, his Dad Army, landing with the D-Day invasion Omaha Beach I believe & His 5th Great Grandfather fought the British.
A few years later my Brother joined the Army, my Mom had 2 Brothers who served & Three Brothers in law one served in Korea. There are a lot of Veterans in my family & my turn started the Day I left for Great lakes Naval Training Command just N. Of Chicago on the waterfront.
Wow 41 years ago, I’m lucky to be alive, I did after all survive.
Say a prayer it’s a day of mixed emotions but it was what so many of us do, we served our Nation.
Alex Boyle
US. Navy Veteran
