Met a Vietnam Vet at Costco today

NavyVette

NavyVette

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As I was walking into Costco I saw that the man in front of me had a ballcap that said "Plankowner" and "Shellback" on the back. I was wondering what ship he was on, and when but he was walking slowly helping his wife in her riding cart so I didn't want to bug him or tur around right in front of her, since she was struggling. He caught up with me at the back of the store, so I said "Hello, Shipmate" and we talked a bit, then he said he had something for me, and asked if I was a Shellback, so I confirmed I was. He gave me this challenge coin.

He was a plankowner on one of the LSD's and I cannot remember if that was when he was in Vietnam or after.

I said "Welcome Home" to hem, and he said it to me.
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Hard to read "One Nation - One Crew - Under God"
"Brothers Of The Sea"
"Honor and Courage"
 
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That is very very cool!

One of these days I'll post my story about meeting a WW2 veteran while I was out at lunch. Amazing encounter.
 
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My father was a WW2 and Korea Navy vet. I arranged for him to take that free trip for WW2 vets to DC. The Honor Flight.

Many crippled up, obviously ill. You couldn’t help but think about how they were once healthy young bucks that went off to war for God and country. It’s a big production and there are family, friends, and strangers gathered at the airport to welcome them home. A nice gesture but sad at the same time. A lot of them were in wheelchairs.

When it was all over the old man was exhausted and a little depressed. It was good to be appreciated as a veteran and hang out with others who served at the same time. But it was also a dose of reality about how much time has passed and how little is left for him. And for his shipmates and other service members.

For his birthday that year I hired a model maker build a fancy replica of the mine sweeper Dad was on in the Pacific 1943-45. Mom said I made an old man cry. That was ironic because the old man and I never saw eye to eye on anything. He died peacefully in his sleep a year later.

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The ship in the background was the cruiser he was on during the Korean War.
 
My dad was a strange bird. He was in kindergarden twice, the Marine Corps twice, went to Marine Corps boot camp twice, got two batchellers degrees at different times, and had one love of hsi life. The only thing he got right the first time.

My Uncle, who I got my middle name from was in the Navy in WW II, which is why I went Navy.

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NavyVette said:
I forgot to mention that when I met the Vietnam vet the other night we both remarked upon the fact that our dads who were idiots when we left for boot camp learned a LOT while we were gone.

I wonder if that's just a Navy thing?
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I told my kids, one of which recently enlisted (Navy) , the Navy will teach you alot that no parent will ever be able to teach you, even if they are Sailors themselves.
 

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