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Grandson to the West Philippine Sea

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By: Bob Boyer

 

Our Grandson Kyle had planned to visit us over this past Memorial Day Weekend (2021). That was until his deployment as a sailor with the U.S. Seventh Fleet to the Asian Pacifi c was moved ahead and all leaves were cancelled.

My wife and I had attended Kyle’s graduation from Basic Training at Great Lakes Naval Base in Northern Illinois a little over three years ago. We had a wonderful day with him and his adoptive parents, our daughter and son-in-law, back in Milwaukee, where we were staying for the big event. His dad drove him back that night. My wife and I haven’t seen him since then, except on family Zooms. This Memorial Day, 2021, would have been a renewal of that graduation celebration.

Most disappointed, of course, were Kyle’s Mom and Dad. They hadn’t seen him in person for several months. Now they would not be able to see him for the next thirteen months. It hadn’t hit home to me that servicemen are often separated from their families for that length of time. My memory went back to the end of World War Two, when I was eight and watched the newsreels showing men returning, and the great emotions evident in everyone after protracted absences. We are not at war at present, but unquestionably tensions are rising, and not just in the Asian Pacifi c.

In fact the reason that the leaves of our grandson and the between fi ve and six thousand other naval personnel on his ship is because of concerns in the Persian Gulf, in particular Afghanistan. Kyle’s Aircraft Carrier is replacing the one now in the Asian Pacifi c. That carrier has been reassigned to the Persian Gulf, which is currently without an aircraft carrier, as the U.S. is withdrawing its last troops, apparently not without concerns about the fragile truce there.

The Seventh Fleet, to which Kyle’s Aircraft Carrier is attached, faces its own critical assignment in the Asian Pacifi c, including The West Philippine Sea, also known as The South China Sea. The reason for the two names for the same body of water is, of course, because China and the Philippines (and a few other countries) have been increasingly contesting which country has sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, part of the Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea. For a capsule history of the sovereignty issue I recommend a recent online “Rappler” article (Aug.4, 2020, Gino Leocadio Paje).

Further complicating matters, President Duterte has recently drawn criticism, even from some allies, for his seeming indiff erence about the sovereignty issue and/or his unwillingness to confront China. Senator Leila De Lima, still in prison for her opposition to Duterte, criticized him for having made a false campaign promise fi ve years ago about jet-skiing to the Spratlys and planting the Filipino flag there in defi ance of the Chinese. She accused Duterte of now making a joke about China’s “stealing Filipino fishermen’s livelihood in the West Philippine Sea.” (“The Manila Times,” May 11, 2021, Bernadette E. Tamayo).

Although we grumble about Kyle’s cancelled leave, we are very proud grandparents/parents. He tried a year of college but decided it wasn’t for him, at least not yet. He worked, quite successfully and happily at the same job for the next two-plus years, before deciding to enlist in the Navy, excited by the prospect of becoming an air-traffi c-controller on a carrier. Partial color blindness thwarted that ambition.

He was disappointed, but then he actually enjoyed basic training. After further training and doing well on tests, he made the rank of Petty Offi cer, and reported to his Aircraft Carrier in San Diego. He is an administrator in charge of tracking what I call “nuts and bolts,” the parts needed to keep the planes in good repair. He has several hundred other sailors in his charge. When he told me once that he had just come off Watch, I asked him what is a Petty Offi cer in charge of nuts and bolts doing, spending time on Watch Duty. “Why, you are an administrator,” I said, entirely seriously. “Everyone gets Watch, Grandpa,” he replied, just as seriously. I guess the Navy is more democratic (and watchful) than I thought.

By the way, Grandma and I did go to Milwaukee after all. We joined our son-in-law for a couple of days, enjoying the city and drinking a toast to Kyle.

Bob Boyer is interested in your comments at Robert.boyer@ snc.edu

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