"I am convinced, Our Father, that your fondest feelings are reserved for the least pretentious and most genuine of us. I am sure that Aviation Boatswain's Mates are some of your favorites. Certainly Aviation Boatswain's Mates have yet to find the virtues of humility, or soft-spokenness or gentleness. They do lead with their jaws, and they always seem to be more ready to fight than to switch. They can be singled out by their red eyes, and by a grubbiness which is a mark of their trade, but their wills match their strong backs, and their love of each other is a wondrous thing to behold. They are the salt of the deck, and the saltiness is honest and open, and they are uniquely your sons. We are grateful for them. As you love them specially, we mark them particularly tonight. Bless them every one, and forever keep them from harm and hurt. In Christ's name, Amen."
Description RIMPAC, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. RIMPAC is held biennially during June and July of even-numbered years from Honolulu, Hawaii. It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet, headquartered at Pearl Harbor, in conjunction with the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces under the control of the Governor of Hawaii. The US invites military forces from the Pacific Rim and beyond to participate. With RIMPAC the United States Pacific Command seeks to enhance interoperability between Pacific Rim armed forces, ostensibly as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations. Described by the US Navy as a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
June / 1994
To Month/Year
July / 1994
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories A fishing boat got a little close to us, so it was boarded. Ended up being a North Korean spy ship.
After 9 bottles of Oscar, I don't remember much about the rest of the first night in Pusan, but when 5000 people have that bad of breath the next day, opening the hangar bar doors does not help.