Okay,,, Proud Papa

[Scrappile]

My son made a career in the Navy, a F-14/F-18 pilot... 22 years.  It was his dream since he was 12 years old and he made it happen...  Great career.... great times.. He met many great people.... and did many exciting things.... Including 2 tours in the Middle East during the Iraq war... He has been all over the world.... Just a great career, and we got to follow it... He did flying in the movie "Behind Enemy Lines".   He flew and trained with pilots from many different countries.... I have a leather coat he had made for me when in South Korea, a leather "Driza-Bone" hat from one of his stops in Australia, mugs for many places.... I think I enjoyed his tour as much as he did.... Anyway, I wanted to share this.   In a video honoring Alex Trebek, (of the TV show Jeopardy)  this evening, I screen snapped this picture....  Note the name on the Jet.... That would be my son!!!

Edited January 9, 2021 by Scrappile

[spirithorse]

Every right to be proud, Scrappile!
God Bless! Spirithorse

[Ken Lotts]

Awesome!  

[dgman]

You have every reason to be proud Paul!

[wombatie]

You certainly have every reason to be proud.  Hope he writes his memoir, it would make a good read.

Marg

[Foxfold]

I agree with everyone else. You have every reason to be proud, you raised a great man. !

[Tomanydogs]

That is so cool. 

[Dan]

I salute you and your son. Remarkable!

[ChelCass]

That is so awesome.  I would be over the moon.  Looks like you did a fine job raising your son.  

[WayneMahler]

I too would be proud of my son and his accomplishments. Please thank him for me for his service and dedication. Sounds like ke really enjoyed it as well as you riding along with him. Hats off to your son Paul. 

[RabidAlien]

Awesomeness!!  ::salute::

 

...gotta admit, I'm now going over to Amazon to look up those hats.  I have two kangaroo leather Aussie hats, one's brim is getting all sorts of wonky (its no longer flat, it curls up on the side like a bush hat), the other one was sized a bit smaller than my huge melon comfortably fits in.

[jblock9907]

For your son, may he have "Fair Winds and Following Seas", a great and rewarding career. I retired after 23 years in the Navy. Don't regret any of it. 

[Rockytime]

You did a great job with his upbringing. You have every right to pop your buttons over him!

[Scrappile]

Not sure it was any of my upbringing.   The smartest thing I did,,,when he told me at around 12, he wanted to be a Navy jet pilot (and the same time the show "Top Gun" came out),  was say it was a great career choice... let's go see what it takes.. I took him to the local Navy Recruiter and asked him to explain to my son what was required for a person to become a Navy jet pilot.... The recruiter explained about college and stuff, but the most important thing he said was "you have to stay out of trouble.... good grades and no police record, stay out of trouble...."  My son never gave us a moments worry and was always on the honor roll in school through college....  

Edited January 10, 2021 by Scrappile

[amazingkevin]

Yep! You being a marine and all Plus Vietnam!!! Chip off the ol block!!!

[meflick]

Neat and a son to be proud of for his commitment and goals at an early age. A father for him to be proud of who helped him learn early what it would take to meet those goals. Thank you for his service. Sounds like he has lots of great memories from it all.

[flarud]

Very very cool!

[LarryEA]

What an honor for having a Hero for a Son. 

Stand up proud.