In Harms Way 1972

sunrise in the south china sea half way between subic and yankee station i am still in awe of how something as big as this boat with all of the stuff on board, floats and yet, of how small we are compared to the sea and ocean there will be little change in the scenery, horizon to horizon ocean, sun up to sun up maybe a few white caps, flying fish, we’re getting ready to “support” another campaign 500 pounders, clusters and lots of them f4’s riding shotgun it’s going to get tense with all of the launching of full aircraft and recovery of the empties between sorties, we’ll take on un-rep and then get back into it we’ll do that for a few days, if we’re lucky, we’ll get out of the hostile zone and stand down for a day for most that means barbecue on the flight deck for others, like me, it means catch up on maintenance we are literally an island, largely cut off from the world as one would know it we have enough fire power to level several cities and because of that, we are a danger and target and yet there is a secure feeling of being on the boat i don’t worry about my safety my training and responsibilities keep me occupied sometimes i wonder if we are doing the right thing and hope this “conflict" will end soon there’s little time for idle thought i do think of how much i miss my family and loved ones when i do get home, it will be strange for a while, i’ll have nothing in common but that uncomfortable feeling of not belonging and wishing i was at sea again in harms way