Sky Allen McSpadden proudly served in the United States Navy for nine years, based in Jacksonville, Florida. For five of those years, he was stationed aboard the USS Halyburton, a period of service that took him across the world — to places like Greece, Spain, … Continue readingMom honors Navy son’s service
“In 2014, at the last red light before going over the Fred Hartman Bridge, an 18-wheeler got me. I mean, he T-boned me. “They Life Flighted me to Hermann Hospital. I was in a coma for three days and in ICU for three weeks. Because … Continue readingNavy veteran calls himself ‘walking miracle’
“I graduated high school the night of the 28th of May. The night of the 29th, I was sleeping in my barracks. “A friend of mine was in the Navy, and I had always wanted to join. The Vietnam War had just started. I went … Continue readingNavy veteran reflects on Vietnam War service
“My daughter is a water baby. Always has been. She was part of the Sea Scouts group here in town for four years. She got certified in scuba when she was 14. She learned how to sail small boats and big boats. Her uncle has … Continue readingNaval daughter part of military family legacy
“I was 19 years old in 1941. In those days, you didn’t work on Sundays. Nothing was open. It was a special day. So when Pearl Harbor happened, I was so frustrated. How could they attack on a Sunday morning? “I was so proud of … Continue readingNavy veteran: ‘We never thought we would survive’
“I was an LVN when I got out of the Navy, then I became a registered nurse in 1979. After working in the neonatal unit at Texas Children’s Hospital, I got a chance to work in the ER. People came in with all sorts of … Continue readingReiki teacher draws on nursing experience
“Back when the Vietnam War was going on, my parents wanted to take out a second mortgage on their house to send me to college. But I couldn’t let them do that. If I didn’t make it, I couldn’t live knowing that they were going … Continue readingRetirement perfect time to complete college degree
“A friend of mine, he graduated high school a year before I did. He came up to school one day and said, ‘They’re fixin’ to draft me. Let’s go and join something.’ “There were four of us who went to the Naval Reserve place in … Continue readingFixing breakfast better than submarine duty
“I was 18 and wanted to get out of the house, but I didn’t have any money. So I joined the military and was in the Navy for a few years. They try to change a boy into a man. I learned a lot about … Continue reading‘Now I know how great I could be in the future’
“The best job I ever had was in the ‘80s up in Virginia, working as a sheet metal mechanic in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. It’s where they build, remodel and repair the Navy’s ships. “Being a Vietnam War-era veteran, I was proud to help service … Continue readingHe helped to keep the Navy’s fleet afloat