#212—“Down Time,” Part 2: USS Kitty Hawk (On-duty) — A Veteran's Journey There's not a lot of downtime when you work on the flight deck of an active aircraft carrier, but you can find some quite time.

When you're at sea ... on a Western Pacific cruise ... working 16-18 hour days on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, there's not a lot of "down time." Still, you find those times, those moments to unwind for a bit.
#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #NeverForget
azadkinsiii.com/blog/212-dow...

#210—There’s Nothing Like a Liberty Port Call — A Veteran's Journey While in the Navy, liberty calls were always welcomed ... in all ports, at least those few I visited in the 1970s.

Liberty call!!! After a long at-sea period, pulling into a friendly port for good food, good drink, and good (insert your own term here) could be the beginning of an exciting adventure.
#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #NeverForget #LibertyCall

azadkinsiii.com/blog/210-the...

#209—This “Getting Old S**t” is Getting Old — A Veteran's Journey They say with age comes wisdom. I sometimes wonder when that "age" appears. Meanwhile, there are other age-related "Gotchas."

This “Getting Old S**t” is Getting Old
Back in the day, "they" said getting older meant you got wiser. I can agree with that. What "they" didn't tell you was that there were a few other "gotchas" that came with age.
#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #Neverforget
azadkinsiii.com/blog/209-thi...

#208—“Timeless Treasures” — A Veteran's Journey We all have those memories, those old photos, those hand-me-downs that are hard to forget; even harder to get rid of.

Timeless Treasures
As I get more "seasoned", there are more memories I want to pass along, either to our kids or their kids. But the newer "digital" generation don't necessarily use many of these "timeless treasures."
#AVeteransJourney #NeverForget #LifeIsAJourney
azadkinsiii.com/blog/208-tim...

#207—Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026 — A Veteran's Journey 2025 is now behind us and 2026 ahead of us. As my dad's old WWII 80th Infantry Division motto: "Always Move Forward!"

Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026
Welcome to 2026! All of us at "A Veteran's Journey" wish you and your families the best in this coming year. As we used to say in the 70s ... "Keep on truckin'!"
#Aveteransjourney #lifeisajourney #Neverforget
azadkinsiii.com/blog/207-goo...

Even though it's been 50 years since I left the Navy, some things I can't forget. A sound, a smell, a song ... sometimes bring back fond memories. "A Veteran's Journey" wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #NeverForget
azadkinsiii.com/blog/206-tho...

#205—It’s Become an Obsession — A Veteran's Journey While I've written many books in my years, this one about the men from my county who died during the Vietnam War, is the toughest.

I'm writing another book. It's about the men from Alachua County, Florida (my home county) that died while in service during the Vietnam War. This is why it's become an obsession.
#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #NeverForget #VietnamWar
azadkinsiii.com/blog/205-its...

#203—Welcome Aboard! — A Veteran's Journey It's an adventure moving between duty stations. But when you transfer from a land base to a floating city ... that's a story in itself.

#203—Welcome Aboard!
It's quite an adventure moving from one duty station to another. But when you're about to transfer from a land base to a floating city ... that's a story in itself. Welcome Aboard!
#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #NeverForget #USNavy

azadkinsiii.com/blog/203-wel...

#201—The Journey Continues — A Veteran's Journey Funny how when you get older, you begin to realize things in your life have sort of "fallen into place." No regrets - we keep on, keeping on!

#201—The Journey Continues azadkinsiii.com/blog/201-the...
Do you believe in fate? Or is this just God's way of remaining anonymous? Regardless, for me, life is a journey and I go with the flow.
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #Veterans

Navy Friday Funny - The Senior Walmart Greeter — A Veteran's Journey Each military branch of the United States has its own cultures, language, and traditions. In the Navy, the Chief Petty Officer serves a dual role as both a technical expert and as a leader; emphasis b...

Navy Friday Funny
It's Friday ... Yahoo! It's Fall ... Yahoo! It's still hot ...
But, here's a Navy Friday Funny that I hope brings a smile to your face to help you launch your weekend. Go Gators!
#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #NeverForget
azadkinsiii.com/blog/navy-fr...

#200—If We Had This Back in the 70s ... — A Veteran's Journey Technology has certainly changed since my time in the Navy, back in the mid-70s. Good or bad? Nothing I can do but use it.

How many times in a conversation with one of your youngun's (children, grands, or great-grands) have you said, "Well ... back in my day, we didn't have these things."?

azadkinsiii.com/blog/200-if-...

#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #NeverForget #the70s

#199—You Remember That Time When … — A Veteran's Journey My time in the Navy was only 4 years, but my, what a cornerstone for the rest of my life's journey. I'd do it all over again, too!

#199—You Remember That Time When … azadkinsiii.com/blog/199-you...

It's been almost 50 years since I left the Navy, but there are things ... moments really ... that I can remember like they happened yesterday.
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #usnavyveteran

Navy Friday Funny - The Power of the Almighty Chief Petty Officer — A Veteran's Journey Each military branch of the United States has its own cultures, language, and traditions. In the Navy, the Chief Petty Officer serves a dual role as both a technical expert and as a leader; emphasis b...

Navy Friday Funny
It's Friday! Yahoo!!! What does that mean to a retiree? Just another day in the week. But I hope this brings a smile to help launch your weekend.
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #NavyFridayFunny

azadkinsiii.com/blog/navy-fr...

Navy Friday Funny - The Master Chief and the Seaman — A Veteran's Journey Each military branch of the United States has its own cultures, language, and traditions. In the Navy, the Chief Petty Officer serves a dual role as both a technical expert and as a leader; emphasis b...

Navy Friday Funny - The Master Chief and the Seaman azadkinsiii.com/blog/navy-fr...

#AVeteransJourney #LifeIsAJourney #NeverForget #NavyFridayFunny

Navy Friday Funny: The Navy Airdale Master Chief - In My Next Life — A Veteran's Journey Each military branch of the United States has its own cultures, language, and traditions. In the Navy, the Chief Petty Officer serves a dual role as both a technical expert and as a leader; emphasis b...

Navy Friday Funny: The Navy Airdale Master Chief - In My Next Life
It's been a minute... here's a Navy Friday Funny to help launch your weekend. I hope it put's a smile on your face.
An oldie...
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #NavyFridayFunny

azadkinsiii.com/blog/navy-fr...

#197—What the Hell Did I Get Myself Into? — A Veteran's Journey Fresh out of high school, I wasn't ready for college. But the Navy? What did I get myself into? I'll tell ya -

When I was 18, I made a choice; a few weeks later, I asked myself, "What the Hell Did I Get Myself Into?" Turns out ... it was the RIGHT choice for me.
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #usnavyveteran

azadkinsiii.com/blog/197-wha...

#196—Your Mission … Should You Decide to Accept it — A Veteran's Journey The memories keep popping up. Write them down; soon, you'll have enough for a memoir or, better yet, a book.

My time in the Navy a cornerstone of my life. I've got a plethora of great memories, and can still recall most of them in detail. I want my grandkids to know what I did during those 4 years in the 70s.

#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #usnavy

azadkinsiii.com/blog/196-you...

#195—A Child of the Sixties — A Veteran's Journey Born in the 50s, child of the 60s, Navy in the 70s, family & career - what a journey. More to come and more to do. I'm on a roll!

#195—A Child of the Sixties azadkinsiii.com/blog/195-a-c...
As a Baby Boomer, I've seen a lot of changes during my life. My time in the Navy during the 70s amplified much of what I experienced in those younger years. My how time flies...
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #achildofthe60s

#194—Taking “Leave” — A Veteran's Journey Taking leave of absence between duty stations was something I looked forward to. But I also had an "itch" to return to the next duty station.

Even though I left the Navy nearly 50 years ago, I still remember the excitement of going home on leave. I also remember that "itch" to return to my duty station.
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget

#194—Taking “Leave” azadkinsiii.com/blog/194-tak...

Blog #193 - D-Day: No Better Place to Die — A Veteran's Journey D-Day: June 6, 1944 - 81 years ago. There aren't many WWII veterans left, but we remember them. So many fathers, grandfathers, brothers.

D-Day: No Better Place to Die
It seemed appropriate to repost this story about Becky's dad, Dr. Rufus K. Broadaway and his jump into Normandy with the 82d Airborne.
azadkinsiii.com/blog/blog-19...
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #DDay

#192—You Won’t Hear These Terms in Other Branches of the Service — A Veteran's Journey The military has many terms & phrases; some are shared with other branches. But these... these are Navy-related terms.

You Won’t Hear These Terms in Other Branches of the Service

It doesn't matter if you're Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard. We each have our own unique "language." A few you'll hear in the Navy.

#AVeteransJourney #neverforget #lifeisajourney #NavyTerms
azadkinsiii.com/blog/192-you...

#191—Memorial Day 2025… Never Forget — A Veteran's Journey Memorial Day is a somber day to many veterans, this one included. We remember those who didn't make it back.

Each year on Memorial Day, I find myself spending more time reflecting on the sacrifices our men and women made over the years so we can appreciate and enjoy our freedoms. This year is no exception...

#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #MemorialDay
azadkinsiii.com/blog/191-mem...

#190—Westpac ’75: Heading Home — A Veteran's Journey After 6 months at sea on a Westpac cruise, Kitty Hawk heads home to San Diego. My one and only Westpac, but what a memorable one.

#190—Westpac ’75: Heading Home
azadkinsiii.com/blog/westpac...
After a 6-month Westpac, we left PI, heading back to San Diego. Even though I loved the idea of visiting new countries (I still do), coming home to the US was a great feeling.

#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #Westpac

#189—Westpac ’75: It’s Not Just a Job… — A Veteran's Journey While we all enjoyed liberty in ports like the Philippines, Hong Kong, & Japan, getting back to sea... to the flight deck was where I belong.

#189—Westpac ’75: It’s Not Just a Job… azadkinsiii.com/blog/189-wes...
While we all enjoyed liberty in ports like the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan, getting back to sea... to the flight deck was where I belonged. It's not just a job...

#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #NeverForget #Westpac

#188—Westpac ’75: PI Liberty Call — A Veteran's Journey Trivia Questions (Answers @ end) I’m writing a multi-part series of articles about a US Navy cruise in the Pacific, commonly known as a “Westpac.” I made one Westpac in 1975. It made quite an impressi...

#188—Westpac ’75: PI Liberty Call azadkinsiii.com/blog/188-wes...

June 1975 - Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippines, our overseas forward deployment base for the next few months. My first liberty after being at sea for two weeks. What do do?

#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #Westpac

#187—Westpac ’75: Transit to PI — A Veteran's Journey The US Navy taught me many things. The most important was to believe in myself and my abilities. Westpac '75 took me to the limit.

#187—Westpac ’75: Transit to PI azadkinsiii.com/blog/187-wes...

We just left Hawaii (June '75), now on our way to PI. We'd already lost one F-4 Phantom, and will experience a major flood... All before we get to PI. What else could go wrong?

#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #Westpac

#186—Westpac ’75 Flight Ops — A Veteran's Journey Working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is challenging and exciting, especially during flight operations.

#186—Westpac ’75 Flight Ops azadkinsiii.com/blog/186-wes...
Join me and my shipmates as we leave San Diego (May 1975) and head to Hawaii on our way to PI.
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #Westpac

#185—Westpac ‘75 — A Veteran's Journey United States Navy - Aircraft Carrier - Flight Deck - Need I Say More? Challenging, Rewarding, Dangerous, and Exhilarating.

It's been almost 50 years since I reported aboard Kitty Hawk. I can still remember pulling out of port, heading out into the ocean blue, on our way to a Westpac cruise. And I had a front-row seat, working on the flight deck.
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #Westpac

SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, February 1, 2025, 10a – 4p.
Sunshine State Book Festival @ Best Western Gateway Grand, Gainesville. I’ll be sittin’ at Booth #107

I'll have all 6 of my books. I hope to see you there!
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #sunshinestatebookfestival

#184—Navy Lingo — A Veteran's Journey The military has a language of its own. The Navy... another language all together. Here are a few of my favorite (clean) Navy terms.

I'd always wanted to learn another language. I was 18 when I joined the Navy in 1973... a 4-year enlistment. And yes, I learned a "new" language. You might remember one or two of these "nuggets."
azadkinsiii.com/blog/184-nav...
#AVeteransJourney #lifeisajourney #neverforget #navylingo