Shipmates and sea stories

West Hartford, CT

There were several reasons I joined the Navy. My grandfather served briefly as a sailor in World War I. Some of my personal heroes served in the Navy: John F. Kennedy, Robert A. Heinlein, Jim Lovell. A fellow grad student was in the reserve doing interesting things and getting paid to do it; that was the final thing that captured my attention. A direct commission led to 20 years of interesting experiences, valued shipmates and a few sea stories (even if they were all on land).

I started as an engineering duty officer and later redesignated as an intelligence officer. My adventures included a 350-day deployment training Afghan National Army intelligence soldiers. As with many experiences, it is ultimately the people who make the difference. I’ll never regret serving with the sailors of the 21st century and treasure the relationships I still maintain with many of them.

LCDR (retired) Edmund Rochford, USNR

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