Richard Fleming:  

I am excited to be closing the door on a great career in the Coast Guard (28 years). My main objective in joining the Coast Guard was to travel. To live in places that a young man from Long Island, NY would only dream of visiting. 10 years in Hawaii, and 2 in Guam afforded the opportunity to be immersed in the Polynesian and Micronesian cultures. Something that a mere vacation could never do. The aloha spirit is alive and well in Hawaii, but the Chammorans exhibited this same love for their neighbors during extreme hardship. In the 2 years that I lived In Guam the island was struck by 3 very powerful typhoons. Extended power outages, contaminated water supply, and gas shortages could not extinguish the peoples love for one another. There were no riots, no looting, instead there was togetherness, sharing, and helping. My time there was priceless. While I was gallivanting across the south pacific I earned a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies. Needless to say in today€™s job market that is just about useless. After a lot of research and soul searching I decided to go to Pensacola State College and pursue a Degree in Health Information Management. On to the next challenge. This is the farewell e-mail on my last night in the Coast Guard. There is a second half if you want it e-mail me. Hello All, Here it is, down to the last hour and a half in a 28 year Coast Guard career. The reason you're getting this e-mail is because you contributed in some shape or form to the "Long Strange Trip It's Been. You're sick of hangin around and you'd like to travel; Get tired of travelin and you want to settle down. I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin, Get out of the door and light out and look all around. Sometimes the lights all shinin on me; Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been. (Jody bare with me). First stop The Hawaiian Islands, particularly WLB-401 Sassafras. I take the long plane flight from JFK Airport in NY to Honolulu. In topical Blue Long w/ Combo cover. I didn't know, but I soon found out. I have my luggage now where's my ride. I hear a booming voice and it's getting louder. What are the saying. COAST GUARD BOOT! That's what they're saying and it is loud and incessant. What did I get myself into. Four shipmates have come to take me back to the ship. They are all obviously drunk, in civilian clothes, and driving a government van. As many of you know the ride from the airport to then BASE Honolulu is rather short that is if you don't stop at Dirty Dans. I protest. I can't go in there, I'm in uniform. Easy solution, just take your nametag off it will be alright . Now I'm in uniform but out of uniform if you know what I mean. Many hours later....we make it to the ship. Up the brow. Salute the flag then the Quarterdeck. Man I made it. Down the starboard side, open the watertight door, down the ladder left turn onto the mess deck, don't go straight that's the buoy deck, left and another left down the ladder. Look to your right you have the middle rack. Get in and pull the curtain this is the only private space you'll have for the next two years. Welcome aboard. Oh, by the way I think your mess cooking. And thus started a 28 year career. Here is an original poem I wrote on that same quarterdeck during the ever enthralling 12-4, also known as th...Expand for more