Category: Military Life
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Why You Can’t Go Home Again (But Don’t Need To)
Home. We all know the meaning. But what does it really mean? To me, growing up in a nomadic Navy family with 21 different houses, home was where my mother made it. But when I left for college, I sought a new home, one of my own. But it eluded me until I had my…
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Sugar Beaches and Stout Oaks: A Navy Life in Monterey
The recent passing of my father caused me to reflect on my life with my parents. My father devoted his life to the Navy, and unwittingly, so did my mother. In honor of Memorial Day and my father’s service, here’s a piece I wrote for his funeral.
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Skipper: Stories of my Grandfather
Sydney Nelson Patton (1882-1976) was born into the world of another era. During his life he arguably witnessed the greatest change of any generation: when he was young he rode horses, trains and read by candles but during his life he saw the advent of electricity, radio, cars, airplanes, TV and he watched men walk…
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Getting Busted Surfing at Fort Point, 1973
Early 1973 Awakened by stones hitting my window I grab my clock, it’s 5AM! Wow and a school day too. I grab my board and wetsuit and pile into the car with Jeff Chamberlain and Sam George as we drive over to the city; San Francisco that is. There is a slight haze on the…
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The Battle of Midway: the US Navy’s Greatest Victory
Diorama by Norman Bel Geddes, depicting the attack by American “Dauntless” dive bombers on the Japanese aircraft carriers Soryu, Akagi and Kaga in the morning of 4 June 1942. Source: http://www.history.navy.mil “The most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare” — John Keegan, Miltary Historian “They had no right to win. Yet they…
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Coming to America: the Journey from Valangin, Switzerland
Jules Ernest Tissot and Family in Chino around 1910. Back row (from left): Adele Marchaud Tissot (1824-1910), Adele Tissot Aubert (1869-1955), unknown, Jules Ernest Tissot “the Black” (1864-1915), Gabrielle Tissot Mulvane (1893-1982), Cecile Franc Tissot (1865-1941). Second row (from left): Unknown, Jules Henri Tissot (1901-1965) Front row (from left): Cecile Emma Tissot (1903-1988); unknown, Ethyl…
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The Heart Stones of Trinidad
I took my love and took it down I climbed a mountain and I turned around And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills Till the landslide brought me down Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love? Can the child within my heart rise above? Can I sail through the changing ocean tides…
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Gifts from the Sea: A Letter from my Mother
So there I was unpacking boxes from like the 20th move of my life. Growing up in a Navy family I was used to the drill but had forgotten the surprises. This move was different as my wife and I had moved from Washington State where we lived for 16 years; the longest I had ever lived in one…
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Playing Chess during the Vietnam War
Finally, there it was: “Pawn to Queen’s Knight Four.” I raced into my bedroom to my chess set and made the move. Staring at the pieces I smiled and immediately thought of my next move. But then I had time to think: it would be months until his next move. They call it the Game…
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Coming Home
Born on the Navy circuit, moving every 2 years. Home was an elusive concept at best. As life would have it we occasionally doubled back and that place was San Diego. Living there in the’ 60s and ’70s was a magical experience. Simple, clean, fun, and just right for starting my love affair with the ocean.…