Originally posted by caseysmom
I had an uncle that was a career military, I never really understood the hardship on the family until he died and my aunt gave a wonderful tribute to him. She is an ordained minister, mostly she does chaplain work, but she did a great job helping the rest of us understand.

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 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" 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