Trego's Mountain Ear

For folks who don’t know, Dad retired from the Navy as a CWO4 – Chief Warrant Officer. Most of his neighbors here didn’t really understand what a warrant officer was, and he didn’t make it easier for the questioners when he would explain “Jesus Christ was a Carpenter’s Mate.” Folks who had served around warrant officers understood and accepted the comparison. At the time he retired, CWO4 was the top warrant officer. Dad and Ed Ruhl both retired as CWO4 – Ruhl was Marine Corps and had one day of seniority on Dad.

One of our conversations touched on the conditions of his retirement – that he could be called back in the Navy needed his skills, or if he violated civil law or UCMJ to embarrass the Navy. The conversation was a long time ago, and kind of in passing – perhaps driving down the road. Mark Kelly wouldn’t be in the crosshairs of an investigation had he been in the passenger seat paying attention to the old boatswain.

Instead of having a deck division to supervise, Kelly had an airplane to fly, then went on to become an astronaut. I wish I had Dad to comment on Kelly’s situation – not for an analysis of whether Kelly did right or wrong – I’m sure Dad would have looked at his video appearance as foolish at the least. I’d like to hear Dad’s analysis of how a Navy officer could retire as Captain – with the bird on his shoulders – and still either not be aware of the circumstances governing his retirement, or somehow figure that the rules just don’t apply to him. Somehow, the CWO4 knew the situation when he retired, and the Captain did not. There are a lot of times when I still wish I could telephone Dad and get something he said years ago clarified. Most times it isn’t something on the national news that makes me feel that way.