Tom Franklin's Blog

And you always will.... I only did one hitch int he Navy but there are very few days that I don't think about it.... Especially my boot camp commander...... Chief petty Officer Rickles....... Boy did I ever do some quick growing up around him....... On the briny is an experience that everybody should experience....

Living life to the fullest........

Up in the wild blue yonder is the only way to go tommy! You can keep the ocean, I get sea sick.
Pooks, my youngest, Levon, is a Loadmaster just like his old man. He has only been in a little over a year and has decided to make a career of it. My daughter Tricia is a nurse in the Army, can't win them all. Army???? She is a career soldier also.
My middle boy, Gordon, is in training as a pilot. Either bomber or cargo, he is not sure which one he will be yet. He is also a career man, maybe.
So far, 4 have replaced me I guess. Could not be more proud of my kids and you're daughter.
Except Tricia. Army???? And two of my kids are officers???? Where oh where did we go wrong.

LOL mechany. My oldest has one year left of sea duty then she plans on finishing her nursing degree and becoming an officer. She too is career. Hubby is an officer and was a fighter pilot in the AF. I have no clue what Jamie plans for the AF. She says wait and see. KIDS!

Heya Bill. 20 years? Man, where does the time go. It seems lke yesterday I was a AB. I wonder how in the heck did I make Chief. They must have been desperate is all I can say.
I have so many good memories of my time in. Interspersed with moments of pure terror. That is the definition of flight duty, hours of boredom with moments of panic.
Pooks, didn't Jamie enlist with a guarnteed MOS? Heck, if not she might end up a cook at Lackland. Hey bud, pour me some eggs! They had the worst food in basic. But you were so hungry you would eat anything. Even Dinty Moore beef stew seemed good by comparison.
And you're husband was a fighter pilot? Wow. I am jealous. I was in cargo planes for 30. The one advantage we had over fighters is being able to stretch our legs and have a coffee pot.

My daughter loves being in CAPS. She originally wanted to be in the JR Marines but where they meet was too far and too late for a school night. She is interested in being either in the Marines or the Navy; and not sure if she wants to be a pilot.

Thank you for continueing your service through CAP.

Brain cramp, I can't remember the squad name. She attends at Rockwood Summit in Fenton. She also assisted her squard leader teaching aerospace to the unit that meets at the airport.

Wants to be jarhead because her brother was a jarhead. Her uncle was in the Navy and Great-Uncle was a Navy Pilot shot down in WWII (MIA).

I will tell her about Air Controllers. Yes, you sound like a recruiter, must be in your genes.

It was an honor to serve. Yeah, our kids have done us proud. Still though, as a parent there is a certain amount of fear. Fear that they will have to see what I have seen. That they will not come home the same, or not at all.
I guess that is a parents way. I know mine had to go through it with me. I just did not realize how hard it is.