She knows I'm ribbing her when I say it. We had a heart to heart for real at her boot grad when I told her she's a better daughter as she is than any son could be. That I'd rather have her for a daughter because of who she is than a son for the sake of a son. So she knows how I really feel and what that tongue in cheek statement means, as do most who've heard me talk about her. It's OK. I'm not picking a fight or arguing. I'm jesting. But I also feel like a little understanding goes a long way, which is why I'm taking time to explain this.

You must be very proud of your daughter, understandably so.

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Soli Deo Gloria

captorquewrench - I've had the honor of serving with many fine women in uniform, from all services (oddly enough, except for USCG!). I have a little one (he's four) and my wife hopes he'll join the military. When I said I'd love to have a Navy SEAL in the family, she replied she was hoping for USAF Air Traffic Control! Well, he wants to fly jets off of carriers. Whatever he chooses, I'll be proud as ever.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Ditrina--This is the coolest single thing I have seen posted since I have been on this forum. Comments and questions:

1. If I read the chart correctly you went from Norfolk, VA to the Equator in about 7 days? That ship you were on must be fast! And it looks like you could have made it quicker, in that all days traveled are not equidistant? Am I reading that correctly? Why on some days did you cover much ocean say from Nov. 13-15, verses what looks like much less distance from say Nov. 16-18?

2. On the way to the tip of South America, did you stop along the way for fuel and supplies? It looks like maybe in Rio? Then maybe a couple of times more? November 30? I know this is probably a stupid question, but are there American ports, docks, harbors (whatever the correct terminology) for you to stop and resupply? What I guess I am asking is you don't just pull up anywhere, like at 7-11, give them a credit card and say "we want 12 grape Slurpee's and we are filling it up with Hi-Test?"

3. Then once you got to the tip of South America, and you were traveling back and forth from there to Antarctica, what were you doing? I understand it was an "ice breaker." For whom were you breaking ice? Were you making supply runs maybe to some American base or interests in Antarctica? From where to where were you going back and forth?

4. After you left, why did you not simply go back the way you came? It looks like you eventually went back to where you started so why did you go around South America to the west and through the Panama Canal? I suspect you were not just sight seeing and taking the scenic route? Why did you cover so little ocean on some of those days? (I suspect BAD weather, but don't know).

I am sure you know you can Google your ship and there is a ton of info on it--lots of amazing stories (like breaking down in New Zealand and the sailors taking up with local women, etc.).

I think many (some) Americans realize all the sacrifices women and men in our Services go though, but we don't think through the logistics of it all until we see a chart like yours or see it in a movie (me at least).

Sorry for all the questions.

John

During the first Gulf War-i was coordinating port area security with the Coast Guard-My detachment had a number of Bradleys and when the Coast Guard planned the promotion of a Captain to Commodore they invited us to attend and asked if we would put a Bradley on display-An attending audience of probably 30 people sat down-they started the ceremony and i turned to the LTC next to me and said "I bet we have a SCUD alert right in the middle of this". They gave "attention to orders"
and there go the sirens- MP lights flashing! Since this was at the early stages of the war we were worried about chemical attack-so we get our protective masks on- At first I went for the sedan that we had driven there -thought the better of it and jumped in the back of our Bradley - the crew had cranked it up-The LTC and I slid along the seat with some force bumping into another guy who had beaten us to it-seated up next to the turret. I didn't expect anyone else in the vehicle and bumped into him pretty hard - I yelled at the driver to get the ramp up - then I took a look at the other passenger- It was the Commodore. - No wonder he was promoted, he knew where to go and had beaten all of us into the armored vehicle! Of course I then asked where he wanted us to to take him-he said port security - and as we started to roll the alert as cancelled.
The Coast Guard performed a difficult-critical function-we were part of their land based back up-but they prevented Sadam from sending in frogmen, suicide boats and other sea borne special operatives- thousands of us owe them one.

Great story, 11B Lifer.

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Oh well, what the hell.

John as Mr. Jinks would say.. "I hope this helps.."

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

My grandson returns tomorrow. He is on the boarding crew. Here is what he has done this cruise:
Coast Guard Cutter Bear to Return to Portsmouth | Military.com

That can be very dicey work, I understand. Good for your grandson--I'm sure you're proud of him.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Very proud, tomorrow he is marrying his favorite bowsins mate,they met in boot camp.