All I can say is with 24 years flying in these types of planes, Ihave never been in one that did what this plane did. All I can say is that I would have loved to have been onboard. Simply insane and at the same time great flying as this could have ended very badly.

The morning of 9–11–2001 started by my mom phoning me and telling me to turn on the TV. It was still very early here in Hawaii. I was wide awake in about 10 seconds. It was not another minute or so when the second plane hit.

I told my wife a minute or two later to start packing my suitcase and I called work. As would be expected the base was on lock down already, and only essential people were being let in. I was essential so I got dressed pretty fast and got in the car and speed to work.

I think the next time I saw my wife was two days later, and I was only home to pick up my suitcase.

While I cannot talk about much that happened after that, or where I went, what I did, or what I saw. I can say that the missions and the flying will have memories that will last me a life time.

While I am no longer out doing what I do the best, I am proud to have done it while I did, and look back at my 24 years of active duty service with a lot of pride and look forward to the next phase of my life.

But until my next phase in life starts I am going to enjoy some down time re-charge my batteries. Meanwhile for those of you on the front lines go kick some ass, take some names and don’t ever let those evil bastards do this to our country ever again.

To those that protest about the war you better wake the hell up and remember that most of these fanatics don’t care if you protest all they want is you and your families dead.

I have been taking a couple of weeks of vacation after having some surgery done, and had but all forgotten about this years promotion cycle. When my CMC called me this afternoon I assumed there was something that needed to be tended to at work. Well he surprised me with some great news. Effective tomorrow morning I will be promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer (E8) to say I am humbled and overjoyed at the same time is a understatement.

Obtaining the rank of Chief is very difficult, but getting promoted to SCPO is even more difficult as the percentages are very small. For those that are Navy Chief’s you will understand what I am felling in that I am greatly honored and yet deeply humbled at the same time. Navy Chief Navy Pride.

Hug a service member this Holiday and Pray for them! [Training for Eternity]