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Originally posted by sirrahbed
Was your uncle also a chaplain?? That is great that your aunt is now doing chaplain ministry - and helped explain what this life is like - not really hardship though - some of us don't know anything different! Like me - I have only been "civilian" for a few years now first time ever!!
When I was growing up - I did not know that there was anything else:p Later on, it was fun to tell civilians (non-military) about what career military is like. My friends thought it was interesting to hear about what it was like, especially "the base or post" :D The installations (base or post) are usually like complete little cities - each with housing, dining facilities (used to be called messhalls!) post offices, banks, hospitals, churches (ministers/pastors are called chaplains), police, grocery store (commissary) and regular stores (exchanges), sometimes a swimming pool, bowling alley, gym, etc. Oh yes and even a veterinarian!! :) It has a commander that is sort of like a mayor. The different departments have commanders too - they would be like city civil engineers, policechiefs, department chiefs, etc.
Missy's dad was first a policeman and later ran the "services" like the gyms, bowling alleys, etc... first for individual installations and later on for whole commands (a group of installations - sort of like a corporate headquarters) During the Gulf War - his job was organizing feeding tents in the desert, things for the soldiers to live and eat, and also he ran mortuaries.
Missy's grandfather (my dad) was a pilot in WWII, later an airplane refueler in the air and then an aircraft mechanic inspector. My mom, Missy's grandmother was an Army nurse and worked on a hospital ship off Italy. My brother, Missy's uncle was an AirForce aircraft engine mechanic.
Her other grandfather was a "damage controllman" on ships. His job was to use wood to fix battle damage until it could get back to a port for more permanent repair. He also built PT boats in WWII. These are like what President Kennedy was on and also John Kerry. He was later a civilian carpenter. I am trying to use *civilian* language and no abbreviations but it is hard!!
Hope this is interesting to some of you:)
