Welcome To My World
Anchors aweigh, my boys Anchors aweigh. This is a song that every sailor
learns in boot camp. It is a song that holds my best and worst memories. I have
been called petty officer and MA3 those were my names. Now people just call me
Justin Paterson.
I grew up in a small town called Colton. It is a little farm town in
Oregon. Although I was a small town kid I had big dreams. My dream was to be a
United States Sailor. I don’t know why that was my dream but as far back as I
can remember that’s all I wanted to be. I was 18 and fresh out of school and my
dream was starting. I was on my way to grate lakes, Ill. This is the location
for boot camp. I was going to be a sailor.
Looking back at the 9 weeks of hell we call boot camp I can remember
every moment. I remember the exact moment where I broke and the civilian in me
was gone. I was just coming out of the gas chamber as every recruit must do and
as I was getting yelled at. I looked up and saw the flag. It was the flag of our country. I knew
right there that I was no longer the same kid I used to be. In that moment
everything change that flag was not just a piece of material that is a symbol
for our country. That flag was a part of me. That flag was something I would
die for. When you would willingly give your life for our flag you are no longer
a civilian. Along with the moment where I broke I can see the men I was in boot
camp with. These men are my brothers. Our brotherhood was formed in the midst
of hell. Though we are all different some were black others white. Some men
were old while most were just 18. We were all equal. We were all one. If one
man failed, then we all failed.
The best moment of my life came when the 9 weeks were over. My fellow
sailors and I were standing outside the graduation hall waiting to march in.
when the doors opened up we marched in as one. We were marching to the sound of
beating drums. As we marched in I looked in the crowed and I could see my dad.
At that moment I just wanted graduation to be over I was waiting for the call
for liberty. Liberty is a term that the military used that means we are no
longer on duty. As graduation was coming to and end our Commanding officer
stood up and said liberty, liberty my fellow sailors liberty. At that moment
hundreds of sailors who just finished boot camp ran to their loved ones.
With the call of liberty I ran to the place where I saw my dad sitting.
When I saw him standing there looking for me I just walked up to him. He had
tears in his eyes and he told me that he has never been more proud to be proven
wrong and that his son was defending our country. You see my entire life I was
told I would never make it in the military. The person who told me this the
most was my dad and I proved him wrong. After hugging my dad I turned and saw
my mom. It was at that moment that I broke in to tears. The only person in this
world that always believed in me was standing right there. I was always a big
mommas boy so seeing her was the most amazing thing ever. It was hard to see my
family for I was not kid who left. To me everything was different but for them
nothing has changed.
How does being a sailor define me you might ask? Well a sailor lives by
three core values. The values are honor, courage, and commitment. To this day I strive to live by those values.
They became a part of me. They have a role in my life that helps me make all of
my choices.
So that’s me I am a sailor. A defender of this nation. And I say to you
fair winds and calm seas and Anchors aweigh my boys.
