By the way, my last memory of Yankee Station is as OOD steaming through it on the way back to Yokosuka at the age of 25. Do any of you have any idea who is responsible for all these events suddenly becoming something that happened fifty years ago?
LOL. I have a suspicion that it is the same guy who sneaks in at night and paints my hair gray and makes my bones weary.
It wasn’t sudden; it took 50 years. I know what you mean, though. My 50th high-school reunion is this summer, but I’m not going, because I don’t want to see how old everyone has become.
Interesting history of a bygone era with many of the participants still alive. However as demonstrated by the Ukraine War and the Armenian-Azerbagani conflict the new technologies made possible by the silicon chip have made armored fighting vehicles and virtually all sufface naval combatants obsolete death traps. Wonder how many brave young Americans will die horrible deaths before our woke pole climbing generals and admirals appreciate the new realities.
I was in the USAFSS back then (USAFSS was Air Force Intelligence in those days). We identified targets for both Linebacker I and Linebacker II.
Fifty years ago, we (three DEs) were chasing then-Soviet subs back and forth though the Med, and never lost one. Even when they sent their freshly painted cruisers after us (they weren’t very effective sailors). But they had to cross through the Med to get to and from the Black Sea and the Atlantic.
I think it happens to anyone over 40. I “celebrated” 20 years since I graduated from college as an undergrad. My wife’s 30 year HS reunion is this year. I swear it’s still 2004, I can run a 10 minute mile, bench press 285, and rock music is still resurgent.
Stationed at a NAVSECGRUACTY Base near Yokohama, and having my own car, I usually rode down to Yokosuka on my duty breaks....except times when the fleet was in port there. 1959-61.
Can’t forget the cruise of 72, that’s when my ears started ringing.
So that all the massive military effort at great cost of lives and money would end with the Communists obtaining their goal. Not that I necessarily think the US should have been involved, but the political power of the Communists proved to be more decisive than any military effort. With the MSM acting as its ally.