In my six years in the USAF I never came close to seeing out CMSAF, but I separated out and hired on with ITT. A couple of months later they sent me to Manhattan to their headquarters right down town near Battery Park and the Customs Building, to learn the processor system for the Digital Tandem Telephone Switch. In the Atlanta Airport I was shocked to see CMSAF McCoy walk right by me on the concourse.
That’s a pretty cool story.
I honestly had no idea who the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy was when I was in...when I looked, it was an odd coincidence-he was sworn in on nearly the same day I got on the plane to go to boot camp, and left his post and retired on nearly the day my enlistment officially retired! What are the odds?
I will say this-he was apparently responsible for bringing back the traditional US Navy crackerjack uniform. He deserves my undying respect for that, because I had to wear the crappy ice cream salesman uniform when I was in!
He sent me back the following:
It was inevitable. But as long as I live, I will sing “to a friend, we send a message of his brother men who fly.” It’s just too late for me to change.