Ardent (MCM 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE LAST HOURS As wc sit here in anxiety on this plane (You know the one that signifies the last conned inn flight that will bring us back to our awaiting wives, girlfriends, ehildrcn. families, and friends.) Nobody can help but to ponder oh the events that happened six months ago. The hume-siekness, tension, sadness, anger, and the tear of what lies ahead. You could have heard a pin drop on the entire flight over to Bahrain. Silently most of us asked ourselves Why am I here? . Not even sleeping helped the uneasy feelings present. Hut now here, on this last hour of our deployment, what six months ago was a seemingly impossible dream is now a heart-warming reality, it doesn ' t even seem like six months has passed. It seems like yesterday that we kissed our loved ones that last time before we looked in sadness down that narrow walkway. The one that led to the plane we all hated to sec. For all we know this could be the same plane. Only now its as if this plane is first class all the way to the last row. We sit here and joke about the bad times and recall all the good limes. Spirits are definite!) high. Nothing could spoil this joy. We ' re on the ground now, pulling u - seat-belts sign as the simultaneous soui the cabin. It ' s almost silent again besides the! overhead bins. Onlv this time the silence is di e pilot turns k ' the Fasten elt buckles being torn apart fills kind of baggage removed from the Lrrent. As we slow]) filter out into the . For we know that the ' Impossible at six months ago was a one way ticket een waiting for. As you walk closer, nly family you ' ve had for the last six r so long. As you arrive at the door. dreams lies at the opposite end. The walkw; to the unknown is now a porthole to what we ' you can hear your shipmates, your brothers, i months, returning with those they have missei you notice the floor. The dark spots that were ix months ago dampened by the tears oi sorrow, arc now moistened with tears of joy. You can see that everyone is finally gratified, proud of what he ' s accomplished, EWiat we as a team of professionals have accomplished. The pride is obvious here on this warm fall Corpus Christi night. We ' ve done what we needed to do and we did it withUbsolute perfection, and it shows. As you pass through the door and search the disorder for that special someone your heart races. Finally your eyes meet, your throat fornmv lump and your eyes tear, as the last log entry is made Welcome home, ROTATIONAL CREW CHARL1L, WELCOME HOME! SMI KELSEY 57