BTW, Kebsfroggy - my son is in the Navy too. He initially trained with the Seals down in Pensacola with the goal of Air Search and Rescue, but he kept drowning. He was always great in water, but he had never been tested in raging seas before. He didn't give up, though - stayed in the air program, just transferred back to land. I guess you could say he's a flying grounded seal.

This is supposed to be his final tour. They pressured him to stay in, but he's got plans here at home. They needed some volunteers to work over there as Auxiliary Special Forces, guarding an army/ground air base and going out on patrols. He had been nominated as "airman of the year," and was in top physical condition. He also scored an expert on weapons, higher than sharp-shooter, so I'm sure they pressured him to go along on this "field trip."

My dad was a Navy man too. Served on a destroyer out in the Pacific Islands during WWII.