Valin Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Huffington Post: Jennie Haskamp 11/20/13 After signing my Pop, EM2 Bud Cloud (circa Pearl Harbor) up for hospice care, the consolation prize I'd given him (for agreeing it was OK to die) was a trip to "visit the Navy in San Diego." I emailed my friend and former Marine sergeant, Mrs. Mandy McCammon, who's currently serving as a Navy Public Affairs Officer, at midnight on May 28. I asked Mandy if she had enough pull on any of the bases in San Diego to get me access for the day so I could give Bud, who served on USS Dewey (DD-349), a windshield tour. The next day she sent me an email from the current USS Dewey (DDG 105)'s XO, CDR Mikael Rockstad, inviting us down to the ship two days later. We linked up with Mandy outside Naval Base San Diego and carpooled to the pier where we were greeted by CMDCM Joe Grgetich and a squad-sized group of sailors. Bud started to cry before the doors of the van opened. He'd been oohing and pointing at the cyclic rate as we approached the pier, but when we slowed down and Mandy said, "They're all here for you, Bud," he was overwhelmed. Good thing this kind of thing never gets me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 That was then This is now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickydog Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 : Jennie Haskamp 11/20/13 After signing my Pop, EM2 Bud Cloud (circa Pearl Harbor) up for hospice care, the consolation prize I'd given him (for agreeing it was OK to die) was a trip to "visit the Navy in San Diego." I emailed my friend and former Marine sergeant, Mrs. Mandy McCammon, who's currently serving as a Navy Public Affairs Officer, at midnight on May 28. I asked Mandy if she had enough pull on any of the bases in San Diego to get me access for the day so I could give Bud, who served on USS Dewey (DD-349), a windshield tour. The next day she sent me an email from the current USS Dewey (DDG 105)'s XO, CDR Mikael Rockstad, inviting us down to the ship two days later. We linked up with Mandy outside Naval Base San Diego and carpooled to the pier where we were greeted by CMDCM Joe Grgetich and a squad-sized group of sailors. Bud started to cry before the doors of the van opened. He'd been oohing and pointing at the cyclic rate as we approached the pier, but when we slowed down and Mandy said, "They're all here for you, Bud," he was overwhelmed. Good thing this kind of thing never gets me. Oh, my gosh. That is SO nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 @nickydog Leaving the ship was possibly more emotional than boarding. They piped him ashore. CMDCM Grgetich leaned in and quietly told me how significant that honor was and who it's usually reserved for as we headed towards the gangplank. Hearing "Electrician's Mate Second Class William Bud Cloud, Pearl Harbor Survivor, departing" announced over the 1MC was surreal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickydog Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Thanks, @Valin. There are still a few good people in the military. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 Thanks, @Valin. There are still a few good people in the military. Here's the thing about our military (IMO) 1. Anything you can see in the civilian world, you can find in the US Armed Forces (Good & Bad), and sometimes in the same person. 2. It's middle class "bourgeois". This is one reason so many on the modern Left don't understand them, they don't approve of these values, they think they are "Old Fashioned" and out of step with the new world they want to make. They are of course correct, the US Armed Forces and their values are old fashioned...and that is not really a bad thing. (but you knew that already) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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