Awesome story
, and what a great looking family!
I'll make mine short.
I spent 22 years in the Navy. I was gone at least 1/2 of every year, and mostly more.
To avoid what you and so many of my shipmates and Brother in Arms in other services experienced, I waited until I was 40 years old to marry and 42 to have my first child.
I had to leave a great career early to do that, but once I found Gail, I knew it was the right thing.
Kids are now 18 and 15 (pics in another thread somewhere), and I know I made the right decision. It might have been fun to see if I could have made Admiral, but better to have a healthy, happy, well adjusted family.
Nothing is more important than that.
Tom