‘Old’ perhaps, but not ‘irrelevant’…

This evening we went to a Halloween party hosted by one of Jean’s sons and his wife. We arrived and I saw this license plate in the driveway. I quickly snapped a photo, never guessing that it might be my 365 post for today; I was simply curious what the “AF” designation might denote.

In the house, I met [again?] Jean’s son’s father-in-law and it was he who served on the USS Hyades, a “refrigerated stores ship” with the capability of providing underway replenishment to other ships. His role, duty or responsibility as one of approximately 250 crewmen: everything-electrical.

How might someone with this background be called upon later in life? He helped lead the renovation of his church’s pipe organ, an instrument with more than 6,500 pipes and an Historic Organ Citation designation.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this man, now retired, but with a history of serving his country and his community.

What did I want to convey with this post?
Young(er) people often look at “old” people and see someone irrelevant who is easily ignored. But if we talk to them, we often learn that these seemingly-ordinary people have often done extraordinary things. I am reminded of a quote from Isaac Newton (in a letter to Robert Hooke): “If I have seen further … it is by standing upon the shoulders of Giants” (Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, 15e, 313:10). So, as one observation for young people, keep in mind that the technologies you take for granted were invented and/or developed by clever people you might be tempted to label as “old” and “irrelevant.”

And thank you again for your service, Bill.

More on “AF” and the USS Hyades:
» http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/index_ships_list.htm “AF” denotes a “Refrigerated Stores Ship.”
» USS Hyades’s home on the web, http://www.usshyadesaf28.com
» NAVSHIPSO page, http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AF28.htm
» Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hyades_(AF-28)

1 year ago (“Panda plant”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-10-25
2 years ago (“Well *this* was an ordeal”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-10-25
3 years ago (“Ahhh — Autumn Ablaze!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-10-25

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[Lindy]

Interesting man Thom and what you say is so true.

[Danette Thompson]

Truth. I came across a Korean War vet the other day. He wore his hat proudly. He had difficulty getting around. He dropped something and I picked it up. Other than that, I didn't have any interaction with him but I at least wanted to show a little respect.

[Rick Schies]

Old maybe, but never irrelevant. Our elders have so much to share, if only we take the time to know them