13. San Diego – USS Midway – Go Big and Go Roam

As we were falling asleep after our day at the zoo, TJ looked up the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier – and found out that the next morning they were holding a celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. We woke up bright and early, sped downtown, & ran all the way around the ship to get there in time for the ceremony.

I’m so glad we rushed, because we got to hear first-hand accounts of the Vietnam War from 4 different perspectives. One, a member of the Marine Reconnaissance Battalion. Another, the son of an Air Force Pilot who was killed in action & remains were missing for 50 years. The third, a South Vietnamese refugee, who, as a young girl, was evacuated with her family of 16 on the very ship we were standing on. And last, a Navy Pilot and 8-year prisoner of war.

Courtney Hermann, telling the story of her family fleeing South Vietnam.

The deck of the ship was filled with veterans shaking hands, hugging, crying. It was a moving thing to witness, & I hope the kids soaked-in every word they heard.

After the ceremony, we toured the ship. And I found out I’m a bit claustrophobic. We were all shocked at how small everything was. But the weirdest part was looking through a keyhole doorway & it feeling like an optical illusion – like the doorways & hallways kept going into infinity. I don’t know how people lived like this, and when we made it to the rows of triple bunk beds, it really got tight!

We were supposed to move to a different campground the next day, but we were loving the KOA too much to leave – and there were still so many things we wanted to explore in San Diego. Luckily, the campground had a spot available, so we extended our stay – it just meant we had to move.

The kids took off to swim while TJ & I did the tear-down, moving, & set-up. I’m proud of us – we’re getting really good at it! That afternoon, it rained (so far, every move we’ve made has included rain!). TJ & Chase worked on fixing Chase’s RC car, & that night we settled in & enjoyed a fire outside, under the moon, and a dip in the hot tub.