The Naval Aviator

Anonymous

He has been called: "The boy who never grew up"; "A size nine head in a size seven cap"; "A dirty shirt, a fifth of whiskey, and an uncontrollable sex urge"; "One of those idiots who fly off a postage stamp"; and on rare occasions "The nation's first line of defense." He has been found on exchange duty with the French and Royal Flying Service as well as anti-submarine patrols and convoy escorts during World War I; supporting Army and Marine operations during the "Banana Wars"; in Marine Green flying, fighting, winning and dying at Wake Island and Henderson Field on Guadalcanal; turning the tide of war from Navy carriers at Midway and in the Coral, Philippine and Japanese Seas; risking his life from "Jeep" carriers in the North Atlantic and during the invasions of North Africa, Italy, Sicily and France; being the first to carry the war to the aggressors in Korea, and involved in every major operation in that action; carrying the fight to the would be conquerors in Vietnam and all of Southeast Asia and making the "Tonkin Bay Yacht Club" one of the most exclusive and honored groups in the world; the first American into space, the first American into orbit and the first man on the moon. You will find him where the action is from the South China Sea to the wilds of South America to the storm tossed Atlantic to the blue of the Mediterranean to the empty wastes of the moon. The names with which he is associated are watchwords of America's proud history - Langley, Yorktown, Enterprise, Midway, Forrestal, Freedom VII, Intrepid, Yankee Clipper. Warrior - Yes. Warlike - No.

Scratch that hard, dedicated exterior and you will find the biggest softy in the world. He always has time to help. His capacity for lending a hand to the less fortunate is probably the only thing that exceeds his bent for a good time. Check him closely and you'll more than likely find a tear in his eye at a Little League baseball game. He is tough, but he cares. No rocket will replace him. No American can do without him. You may not appreciate him but you can't ignore him. You may heap abuse on him and call him names, but the next time you need him, he'll be there. And though he may not understand why, he will keep his dedication, his courage, his desire to serve, after all, he is a Naval Aviator.