next thing you'll see if footage outta Iran sinking this carrier

This just rubs in the fact I never got the USS Flagg for Christmas 35 years ago….thanks mom and dad.

This brought tears to my eyes.
The Nimitz was my ship. 1979-1982......VS-24....S-3 Viking Driver....the Aircraft are exactly what Carrier Air Wing 8 looked like in 1979. The Nimitz was launched in 1976 when I was still at A&M. I bragged to all the girls at the Dixie Chicken that I was gonna be flying off that ship. I was only joking. (trying to get SOME) ..but a few years later..there I was. Bustin my balls...trying to get aboard at night. Now I can't even hardly drrive at night. Was I ever that young?

All that's missing is a scale model of me.....sitting in the back of Ready Room 4...having my "Naval Aviator Breakfast"

A cup of black coffee and a Marlboro.

The Nimitz will be retired shortly. That means every ship I trapped on is now razor blades....Lexington...Coral Sea...Kitty Hawk..Nimitz.

Life goes by quick guys...just enjoy the ride.

On my first cruise, I was in a 4 man Bunkroom. I always selected the top bunk. If I was in the bottom bunk, I wouldn't have had any friends in the Squadron....especially after Mexican Night in the Wardroom.
That space was just under the #2 Catapult JBD (Jet Blast Deflector). Try getting some sleep with an F-14 going into AB just a few feet above your head.

My second cruise I was in a 2 man room. My bunkie demanded the top rack. Okay fine.
A few Mexican Nights cured him of that. We were right under the centerline...3-4 wire area. If you heard a loud bang...then another "bummp"...that meant the guy got aboard. If you heard a quick bbbbbump......that meant he boltered. Poor guy...he's having a tough night.

One night, I fell out of my bunk..lower..lucky me. We were in the North Atlantic. Heavy Seas. The ship took a 34 degree roll. Now 34 doesn't sound like alot, but on a ship that huge, it felt like a 70 degree roll.

I still, over 40 years later, have nightmares about that one.