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Just before our first long deployment, two Navy buddies and I were talking about the stress of leaving our families.
A senior officer, a veteran of many deployments, overheard our conversation and offered the following advice: “You must be sensitive to your wives’ emotional needs,” he said. “Never, ever, whistle while you pack!”
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As we stood in formation at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, our Flight Instructor said,
“All right! All you dummies fall out.” As the rest of the squad wandered away, I remained at attention. The instructor walked over until he was eye-to-eye with me, and then just raised a single eyebrow. I smiled and said, “Sure was a lot of ’em, huh sir?”
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After his plane was hit and he was forced to eject, the Navy fighter pilot finally regained consciousness.
He was in a hospital, in a lot of pain. He found himself in the ICU with tubes/IV drips in both arms, a breathing mask, wires monitoring every function and a nurse hovering over him, looking worried. It was obvious he was in a life-threatening situation. The nurse gave him a serious look, straight into his eyes. Knowing he was not only a fighter pilot, but a Sailor, she spoke to him softly and slowly, enunciating each word: “You may not feel anything from the waist down.” Somehow he managed to mumble in reply, “Can I feel your breasts, then?” And that, my friends, is a real positive attitude.
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