Four Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats swept in from the sea, hunting enemy aircraft attempting to get out from under the U.S. Navy’s aerial umbrella. Heading inland, the fighter leader spotted two twin-engine bombers bearing enemy markings on their wings.

On June 30, 1960, I attended a small ceremony where I received my U.S. Navy wings of gold after 18 months of training. It was a joyful experience following months of stress and anxiety as I stumbled through the many training phases and watched friends fall to the demands of the intensive curriculum.