When I was around 6, we lived in Panama City, and my Father worked at Tyndall.
I remember once they had some kind of open house at the Navy Base or maybe it was the Coast Guard, can’t recall for sure. Anyway they let me sit in the gunners seat of a twin 40 or 37mm anti aircraft gun.
I can still recall perfectly, one of the navy guys showing me a three round clip of shells. I thought they were big cannons tho of course not really. They also let me spin the guns using a crank while I sat at the gunners position. Still remember how easy it was even for a 6 year old to turn.
What an uplifting story!
Thank-you for posting it on Free Republic.