Reminded of a cool thing.


 
LMichaels

LMichaels

TVWBB 2-Star Olympian
A number of years ago back when I was at UA ORD. We always would peruse the passenger list for military folks. Then if we could would always accommodate and nice seat upgrade. One night I noticed the "MILA" so I discreetly called the pass to the podium. He was navy. I explained I wanted to give him a nicer seat and he explained he was flying with his friend who was not military. Didn't matter to me, I told him. I'll upgrade your friend as well. I had 2 very nice exit row seats available on a 757 and those are very desirable. I quickly switched their passes and they boarded. He then apparently asked the flight attendant to try and flag me before they closed the doors. Well it was me who was closing doors that night so she said "a passenger wants to ask you something". Turned out it was him. Well turned out he was a little bit bigger of a "deal" than I thought. He was the Commander of the Submarine Group 2. He said he truly wanted to "give me something" for my "troubles". And before I could say anything about it he presented me with this. His personal "Challenge Coin". Was right then I really wished my dad's oldest brother was still alive. He was a submariner during WWII and saw plenty of action in the South Pacific. Anyway it's been a cool keepsake all these years

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timothy said:
The Silent Service. My oldest BIL was COB during and after Nam.
He's 80 now and has never mentioned anything they did, but pokes his brothers for being in the Navy as a bunch of shallow water sissys.
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My dad's oldest brother served on a Guppy Class sub called USS Spot. His middle brother served on an LST. Both primarily in the South Pacific and and the one on the LST saw plenty of action against the Japanese. The one on the Sub did see action in the Atlantic against the Germans as well as the South Pacific.
 
Amazing! Those guys (actually thinking about it) let's face it ALL of them. There was a reason they were called the "Greatest Generation". My uncles, my father in law, as well, and others I knew who went through it. Just listening to some of the "minor" stuff they did and accomplished is still so amazing. My hat is off to them.
But, then too my hat is off to anyone serving or having served (and especially so in combat).
Years ago, my uncle who served in the Silent Service went to Museum of Science and Industry and toured the German U-Boat there. Mind you he served on the smallest of the subs in that time and when he saw that U-Boat he came out and said "for the first time he actually felt sorry for the Germans"
 
LMichaels said:
Well turned out he was a little bit bigger of a "deal" than I thought. He was the Commander of the Submarine Group 2. He said he truly wanted to "give me something" for my "troubles". And before I could say anything about it he presented me with this. His personal "Challenge Coin".
Click to expand...
WOW! Now that's a keepsake
 
timothy said:
The Silent Service. My oldest BIL was COB during and after Nam.
He's 80 now and has never mentioned anything they did, but pokes his brothers for being in the Navy as a bunch of shallow water sissys.
Click to expand...
For most of us the Silent part never ends. 40+ years after I got out I still won't tell you the operations we did. However, I tell folks that if you want an idea go find the book "Blind Man's Bluff." Some people do talk....
 
Jay Jordan said:
For most of us the Silent part never ends. 40+ years after I got out I still won't tell you the operations we did. However, I tell folks that if you want an idea go find the book "Blind Man's Bluff." Some people do talk....
Click to expand...
Thank you for your service!
 
I noticed his cap is tilted (cocked) was that some type of "sign" the person wearing that cap had been in combat? I seem to recall hearing that somewhere if a military person is wearing his or her "cover" or cap on a tilt it's to show they've seen combat. Is that true?
 
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