Once a shipmate, always a shipmate

All of us who served in any branch of the military must surely think of the group of people whom we were once so close to. Whether it was many years ago or simply just last year, there must be a desire to know what has become of all those sailors, or soldiers, or marines or airmen which we once marched or sailed or flew with.

I for one think back a lot to those days in 1967 through 1971 and recall all the good and bad times which became known as my military service. Not everybody can say they had very close friends, which only took a few days to make by the way, given the short time we served together. Somehow, being grouped together with these strangers and being taught how to exist in close quarters and work as a team, has stuck with me and many of you too I am sure.

So now I wonder where they all are and I also wonder why we never attempted to stay in touch since we departed at our discharge from military life.

Sometimes I hear of a reunion here or a reunion there for a ship, or an aircrew, or a squad of soldiers or marines, but not many commands actually gets together on a regular basis. There are some, I hear, which do actually reunite once in a while. These must be very good friends to keep dong this and I wish that my ship and my air wing were one of them. 

Maybe there are a lot of veterans who think the same thing about this too. 

Just maybe it could be true too that we can never go back to what once was and our friends of old will never be seen or heard from again. They will remain lost shipmates but they will always be shipmates to me.

Once a shipmate, always a shipmate.

Once a true friend, always a true friend.

 

  

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