I know the feeling.......
I got what I wanted out of the CG. I saved the lives of 2 women, which are mirror images of the situations, one in the Pacific and the other on Lake Michigan.
A pleasure boat called in with an SOS, I responded with the 40 boat and crew, and pulled 5 survivors out of the water and onto the boat. But one person said that they were missing someone. So I circled the 40 boat and saw someone under the water. I stopped the engines, went back, reached over the side and into the water (the 40s had only a 18" freeboard), grabbed the woman's blouse, and pulled her up out of the water and flipped her onto the engine hatch. (I was much younger and stronger back then!
) In both instances, the ladies looked into my eyes; I had saved their lives.
That's something that sticks with you for the rest of your life. At least it does with me. That's why I joined the CG; saving lives was more important to me than taking them.
Thank you for letting me spout off about my favorite military service.