Monday, November 26, 2007

Why the hell is it always the really good guys?


I am in San Diego now, wearing the uniform and going through all kinds of pre-deployment processing. The day started at 5:00 am when 260 of us descended on an auditorium to be fitted for out deseret camoflauge uniforms. At 8:30, we began a 7 hour series of tedious Power Point presentations covering a wide range of topics- some complete crap, some quite helpful. And then out of the blue, a saw a Power Point slide I'll never forget as long as I live. I am having difficulty now just writing this.

We were being briefed on the seriousness of the threat in Aghanistan and Iraq. The presenter showed a couple videos of IED explosions from YouTube. Then they flashed up the slide- no graphics, just a copy of a casualty report from this April sent by Central Command detailing the loss of a sailor in Baghdad. The slide was meant to show that anyone, even a Supply Corps officer can be killed. Most of the sailors in the room seemed to get the point. All I saw was the name of an old friend, Phillip Anthony Murphy Sweet.
I met Phil when I was a crewmember onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was senior to me by a paygrade, and an incredible Supply officer. A guy who was dedicated to his job as few ever are. He was a good friend, although he and I found ourselves screaming, yelling, and cursing at each other as loud and visciously as we could on a few occasions. No matter though, it was always about the job, and it seemed to strengthen our friendship over time. I hadn't seen Phil since August of 2000 when our ship came home from the Persian Gulf and he was transferred to a new command. I'll not forget the going away party we had in Lisbon, Portugal. I still have a ceramic tray I bought for him at the Maritime Museum there, but forgot to give to him.
Phil was an extremely gifted Naval Officer, but he was also a dedicated family man and a very loving father. That's a tough balance to maintain in the sea service, but it seemed to come naturally to him.
Fair winds, following seas, and Godspeed to you, Phil. I am a better man for having known you, and the world is dimmer without you.




1 comment:

Beeharp5497 said...

This reminds me of a very similar event in my military career. Just as my squadron, the 7TFS, was deploying to Southeast Asia (SEA) in 1972, we got word that a former flying mate had been shot down in Nam.

I'm sure this affects you deeply, Spudman.

We are looking forward to seeing you back here in the Midwest next week and are really hoping to get to see that wonderful young wife of yours, too!

Love Dad