In The Navy

Arctic Artique is not just about art and Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse. This blog is about life. My life, Kitty Wolf's life, Ally's life, your life.

This old photograph consisting of the USS Constellation sailing with a helicopter above it holds very special meaning to me. The USS Constellation or Connie as she was fondly known was once the largest and most powerful aircraft carrier in the United States naval fleet. If you will notice the designation on the side of the helicopter you will see HS-8. That helicopter, that designation, and that ship bear very special meaning to me. Besides, being a high functioning autistic, I am a veteran of the United States Navy.

My sea time was served aboard that very large ship. My designation was as an Aviation Structures Mechanic. I was an Eightballer, the preferred nickname of HS-8 or Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Eight. This was my helicopter. This is one of the six helicopters in my squadron that began my thirty plus year career in aviation maintenance. This was my cruise. This picture was taken at some time between 1985 – 1988.

Big deal you say. Lot's of people join the military every year. Always have and always will. That's just the way it is. For me, it was a very big deal. Remember, I am autistic. Very high functioning, but very autistic. My kind are not supposed to be able to serve. My kind are not supposed to be able to learn. My kind are not supposed to be able to survive without assistance. Fortunately, I did not know what I was at the time. I knew I was different. I wasn't like other people. I twitched and shook and rocked. I also have Tourette's Syndrome. More on that another time.

Although I am and have always been emotionally immature for my age, I scored high enough on my entrance exam to pick what I wanted to do and learn while serving. My choice was helicopter aviation. Why? I have no idea other than an uncle who was also Navy told me that I could get rides on the helicopters and get off the ships faster when pulling into port. I had no idea what he was talking about but it sounded cool to a 24 year old kid. A helicopter mechanic was what I chose and what I became.

It was a very interesting career. From boot camp to school to the motor pool as temporary duty to my shop, I was wide eyed and learning. I was also very negative. Didn't know I was, but looking back, I have been negative my entire life, no matter how good I had it. It's just in my nature. I'm changing that though, now that I know. Thank you Kitty. I sailed the Bering Sea. I was aboard the first aircraft carrier to ever port in Anchorage, Alaska. I partied in Australia. I served aboard a Naval vessel during conflict. Yes, at the time of the Kuwaiti Tanker Escorts way back in 1987, Connie was the first carrier on station. We did figure eights and turned and burned in the Gulf of Oman for a good 90 days, with basically war time flight ops constantly. As far as this ship was concerned, we were at war. One of our Grumman F-14 Tomcats (remember Top gun) didn't lock on but fired a sidewinder at a couple of Iranian Migs that got too close. The shot wasn't designed to destroy, rather give the aircraft a warning to bug out. The Migs left after that. For that one press of a trigger, I am now a Lifetime Member of the Veteran's of Foreign War, better known as the VFW.

I served aboard a couple of small boats. Sorry, if it's smaller than a carrier, it's a boat. I flew with the helicopter from the bottom of the west coast to the top of it. San Diego to Washington. I received a high level clearance for a project in the deserts of Nevada.

I did it all. I worked. I learned. I kicked ass. And I didn't appreciate what I had. That is the nature of autism. I left the navy after my first four year hitch. As I said, I have always been emotionally immature. I was ready to go home. Even though I went half way around the world, excelled at what I did and partied every step of the way, I still wasn't ready to be on my own. That's okay though. My path still continued forward. In my odd and quirky way, I continued my career that I had begun. I stayed with helicopters. I have had a very good 30 year career in aviation. And 27 years after it began, I finally learned that I am autistic.

Go figure.