What's the first thing you notice when coming home?

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:21:11 -0400

So many of us have deployed a number of times. The same thing happens to me every time they cracked the hatch on the plane. It "smells" like I'm home. Interesting enough, when you go back to "Pick-a-Spot", the smell there makes you feel like you never left. I give "sounds" second place as all cities sound different. Is there much agreement out there or am I just being an engineer?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Apr 27 at 2015 11:29 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:29:03 -0400

Everything was so much better! You name it, it was better!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 27 at 2015 11:31 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:31:56 -0400

That ocean breeze and fragrance from Narragansett Bay when the ramp of the C-130 goes down after landing at Quonset Point!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 1:31 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:31:21 -0400

Unbroken sidewalks, green grass and living trees

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 3:27 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:27:40 -0400

Color. Everything seemed so bright. The grass, and trees was beautifully green. All the different colors in the background in town. I didn't realize just how dull sand makes everything else look over time. Silly thing to remember but the drive home just amazed me with how beautiful everything looked.

Response by LCDR Doug Nordman made Apr 29 at 2015 1:04 PM

LCDR Doug Nordman — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:04:26 -0400

1. Surfacing after being submerged for a 90-day patrol, opening the hatch, and smelling the fresh air. Great. But what made an even bigger impression was meeting the tug at the channel and bringing aboard the load of fresh fruit & veggies. You could literally smell the oranges coming down the hatch from hundreds of feet away as their scent was wafted all over the boat by the ventilation fans.

2. Surfacing off the coast of Oahu at 3 AM and opening the bridge hatch. The island has a lot of light pollution-- but when you're over the horizon you're the only source of light. You see the thousands of stars (and the Milky Way) that you rarely see on Oahu. Then you'll look aft and see a long, glowing trail of biophosphorescence in the wake.

Response by SP5 James Slark made Sep 27 at 2021 1:20 PM

SP5 James Slark — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:20:03 -0400

Nobody liked me.