Why I chose to fly in the Navy...

When I was growing up my dad and I used to watch all those old war movies Saturday afternoons on TBS and WGN.  And between Midway, the Flying Tigers, Ba Ba Blacksheep, the Fighting Seabees, and movies like these I supposed that I gained an appreciation for what "grandpa" and his fellows went through and how important it was to serve in our nations defense.  The military isn't for everyone, but at an early age I knew it was for me.

Between G. I. Joe and going to air shows that sense of needing to serve in the military began to evolve into a desire to fly planes and to fly planes in the Navy in particular.  Though the Blue Angles are unbelievable, I think it was the Navy's history and the chance to see far off places that tugged at me the most.

Talking with my dad about these dreams was awesome.  Though he was only in the Navy for a short time (1964-68) I know those were some of the best years of his life.  Flying as aircrew on the P5 Marlin over Vietnam he got out of Illinois and saw more of the world before the age of 21 than most of us will never see.  And I know he was proud and maybe a little envious that his youngest son was going to re-live some of those same moments all over again.

The P5 Martin Marlin

So, in my early teens, my parents took me all over the mid-west to watch air shows, visit aviation museums, and show my science fair exhibits on aviation.  We even made the trek all of the way to Pensacola sometime around my sophomore year in high school.  To say that my parents were supportive is a gross understatment....

Dreams come and go, though, as we go through this thing called growing-up.  Or, rather, priorities have a way of changing.  When I got to college hours in the classroom gave way to hours in the gym and air shows gave way to road trips.  I think it took me about six years and one enlistment in the Navy to finally get my head screwed on straight and my feet back on the righteous path.

But I wouldn't trade those years for anything since  the friendships and life experiences I gained have made me who I am today.

After my parents, my wife and her family were the biggest influence on my dreams.  Liz got me focused on being the best I could be and her dad helped me get my foot back in the door of the aviation pipeline.  As a formed F4 RIO, ex-POW, and A6 driver (among other jobs) Dave was an excellent resource for stories and inspiration.

Here are some shots of the A6 and the F4

Liz and I both had a great time with the Seabees!

But I guess when it all boiled down, the biggest thing that got me turned on to Naval Aviation was the fact that Navy pilots are the best.  And I wanted more than anything to be a part of that team.

These next few pages contain a little info on how you go from looking on the outside to getting into the thick of it all.  If I can do it - you can too!

My ultimate assignment - the P3 Orion