Peter A. Dion, U.S. Navy Reserve Veteran
When I worked as a civilian engineering officer on Military Sealift Command oilers in the 1980s—spending more time in the Indian Ocean than my military counterparts—the USS
Sterett (CG-31) would always play Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” during its approach for an underway replenishment, day or night.
Captain Robert E. Johnson, U.S. Navy (Retired)
I was executive officer on board
the USS O’Brien (DD-975) in 1988. To focus the crew on deploying into the Iran-Iraq war zone, we played “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins on the 1MC whenever we transited the Strait of Hormuz, no matter the time of day.
Jacqueline Gravell, U.S. Navy Veteran
As a general unrestricted line officer assigned to Fleet Operational Support Intelligence Center Atlantic in 1989 as the division officer for information technology, I stood midwatch for about 10 days to understand the needs of the watch. At 0100, one team would play Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” Every time I hear that song, I remember that significant tour.
Captain Daryk Zirkle, U.S. Navy
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was performed in Berlin on Christmas Day 1989 just after the Wall came down. I was a fourth-class NROTC midshipman and missed the concert, but it embodies my service to the nation ever since. Leonard Bernstein replacing “freedom” for “joy” was perfect, and ineffably symbolizes why we fight.
Robert Lee Conner, U.S. Navy Veteran
Once, when I entered the engine room as the supervisor, the upper level watch and auxiliary electrician sang the first four lines of the 1976 hit “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas, not knowing the engineering officer was in earshot. He poked his head out and tried glaring at them. But he couldn’t.
Nick Rusch, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Golden Earring’s 1973 hit “Radar Love.” I was an electronic warfare analyst with a tactical electronic warfare squadron in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This song was popular with the detachment, as we spent many months in the western Pacific and Persian Gulf.
Captain Don Bodron, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired)
Without a doubt, the Jimmy Buffett song “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.” “Good times and riches and son’s-of-a . . . If we couldn’t laugh . . .” I wish I were sailing again.
C. P. Hall II, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
The 1969 song “The Age of Aquarius” by The 5th Dimension. Marilyn McCoo’s opening solo is so beautifully haunting (heard twice in each play) that no matter how tightly wound, how completely locked-and-loaded, for a few brief moments while in Vietnam your brain just mellows out and calm is restored.
Captain Howard C. Cohen, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired)
Richard Rodgers and Roger Bennett’s “The Song of the High Seas” from the 1950s documentary series Victory at Sea captures the vast oceans, crashing waves, and naval attacks. A close second, from the same documentary, is “The Theme of the Fast Carriers.”
Lieutenant Colonel Robert B. Lange, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1970 song “Run Through the Jungle” captured the futility of trying to bring democracy, one rice paddy at a time, to the Vietnamese people, who weren’t ready to accept it. What we didn’t fully understand at the time was that our true mission was to send a message to the Russian government that we would meet them in force if they tried to start World War III by driving across Germany’s Fulda Gap.
Captain Bill Hamblet , U.S. Navy (Retired)
George Thorogood’s 1982 song “Bad to the Bone” was the theme song for VFA-87 during our Mediterranean deployment in 1989. Whenever I hear that song, I laugh and remember our skipper, Commander “Itchy” Crouch, playing air guitar in the front of the ready room after every one of his night traps.
Bruce B. Byron, U.S. Navy Veteran
The 1973 song “Sail On, Sailor” by the Beach Boys. We played this on the fleet ocean tug USS Luiseno (ATF-156) on departing port from Guantanamo, Cuba, in 1974.
John Snyder, U.S. Navy Veteran
The 1965 hit single “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” by the Animals was the theme song of Company 310-66 at Recruit Training Command, U.S. Navy Training Center San Diego in 1966!
Theodore Kuhlmeier, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
For me, as a former Marine, it has to be the “Marine Corps Hymn,” especially the last line for a special reason. I did not have an easy time in the Corps, and I certainly wasn’t the best Marine. But I served and got my honorable discharge. I now have something that can never be taken away—the pride to claim the title of United States Marine.
Chief Petty Officer Patrick S. Corrie, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The 1944 film The Fighting Seabees (featuring John Wayne and Susan Hayward) produced “The Seabee Song.” Though commercial and smaltzy, it endures in the Seabee community and in my heart.
Chief Petty Officer John M. Duffy, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The “Hawaii Five-O” theme by the Ventures was the breakaway song for my ship, the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile cruiser USS Reeves (CG-24). We played that tune once our alongside refueling with the oiler was complete and we hauled out to port at flank speed.
Peter Kolakowski, U.S. Army Veteran
Johnny Nash’s 1972 hit “I Can See Clearly Now.” The song resonated with hope and a view for a better tomorrow despite Vietnam, domestic turmoil, the many foreign policy issues, and one’s personal challenges.
William C. Bell, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Growing up I often heard the “Marine Corps Hymn” when spending time on base with my grandfather and “mustang” major father. Finally, when I was selected for the Color Guard to carry the Marine Corps flag with streamers at my graduation parade at The Basic School, that song became my pride in being a Marine.
Captain Leo G. Dominique, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Two come readily to mind. The soundtrack from the 1950s television show “The Silent Service,” a show that first ignited my interest in the submarine service. And, of course, the submariners’ verse of “Eternal Father Strong to Save.”
Petty Officer First Class Tony Och, U.S. Navy (Retired)
When I am (always) thinking of being at sea, I think of Bob Seger’s “Beautiful Loser” for the verse: “He wants to dream like a young man, with the wisdom of an old man, he wants his home and security, he wants to live like a sailor at sea, beautiful loser, where you gonna fall, when you realize, you just can’t have it all.”
Chief Petty Officer Terry A. Gardner, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The 1981 song “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” by Blue Oyster Cult. Not that I wouldn't do it all again—I would. But this song speaks volumes to me.
Brad Jones, U.S. Navy Veteran
Country music star Ernest Tubb’s 1946 version of the song “Filipino Baby,” first written in 1899. It reminds me of my many port visits to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, over a two-year period.
Captain Fred Furtek, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired)
The solemn lyrics and melody of “Eternal Father,” aka the Navy Hymn, best remind me of my military service experience. The song captures the long tradition, dangers, and serious business of those “who go down to the sea in ships.”
Captain Tom Arminio, U.S. Navy (Retired)
This is a no-brainer for me: “Anchors Aweigh”! It's even the ringtone on my cell phone. Full disclosure—it was my wife’s idea!
