I met a USN Rear Admiral (Ret.) today.

Holy crap read his accomplishments. Wow.

http://boatcoach.tripod.com/flightline/id111.html 

I served on his protection detail in the late 80's while he was visiting the Middle East.He was on the CNO's staff at the time.Not a bad guy at all.We did Bahrain,Saudi,UAE,Israel,Jordan,Turkey and finally relieved in Souda Bay Greece where he headed back stateside.Don't know a lot about the man but he treated me with respect and that's a helluva lot more than I can say about most of the bastids I served on their protection detail.

Ron

I had the privilege and the honor of accompanying 4 star General Wayne A. Downing on a company tour when I was with Caterpillar in Peoria Illinois. He was retired by then...little guy...very soft spoken and friendly...but there was just something about him that commanded respect. During the tour, we went into the work area of a young man that was active in the army reserves. the kid was busy and didn't really pay much attention us when we walked in.....until he looked up...LOL. the kid's chair went flying across the room as he jumped up and stood at attention. Remember...he was reserves and was working a civilian job. the general was wearing shorts and and a Hawaiian shirt...and was retired. The General chuckled when the kid jumped up..told him "At ease, Son" and went over and put his arm around him and spoke privately to him for a moment. I did not hear what he said nor did I want to. the kid relaxed, shook the General's hand and we left. He passed in 2007 but I will never forget that day. He was a hell of a man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_A._Downing 

Quite the Biography !🇨🇮

".......once dressed as a civil war general and rode into the ballroom on a white horse at a Tailhook convention." Helluva guy!

Souda Bay huh? I spent six months "turning circles" out of Souda in the wind down period following the October War '73-'74. Forty plus years later... not a damn things changed except expansion of the field.