As a seventh-grader in 1977, my history class was devoted to American politics. At one point, we were learning about the major parties and how each differed in regards to the Vietnam war. With the draft as controversial as it was, and the fact that it has been suspended just a few years earlier, the teacher couldn't resist querying us about it.
She briefly explained each of the four branches of the military, then asked each one of us which we would prefer if we were drafted. I don't remember all the answers, but I do know that the Navy was at the bottom of my list. Not that I have anything personal against Navy men. In fact, my only experience with them up to that point consisted of a few WWII vets who used to hang out at the local VFW where I delivered newspapers. They were nice guys. And I could tell they were Navy because of the military patches on their ball caps.
No, I wasn't keen on the Navy because I didn't like the idea of being out to sea for such long periods of time. I like the water, but seeing nothing but ocean for months at a time is too much. I was also suspicious of the level of comfort one could find on board a Navy ship. My suspicions were confirmed a year ago.
My wife and I had the opportunity to tour several WWII vessels last summer. We were met by a friendly guide who, incidentally, wore a Navy patch on his hat that looked almost identical to what I remember from the VFW guys. He gave us some basic instructions for a self-guided tour that lasted about two hours. What an eye opener.
My hat is off to all you Navy men and women out there; especially those who have seen combat. The ships we were on clearly were not made for creature comforts, that's for sure. How the sailors lived on those things without killing one another I'll never know. It's no wonder they were given the gravy while the army got the beans. They needed it for morale.
That tour has given me a new respect for the men in Navy blue. When I see a vet with his United States Navy circle patch collecting donations on Veterans Day, I have a better idea of what he endured. When I see a Purple Heart pin I know it didn't come cheaply. When I see an anchor tattoo with the Navy seal I know that man has lived through some hard things.
If I were asked that same draft question today, the Navy would still be at the bottom of my list. But it would be there with the utmost respect. In case you're wondering which branch I would choose, that would be the Air Force. I love planes, I love to fly, and wearing a set of USAF wings would be awesome. But that's another blog for another day.
