[Seahawk]

First of all, welcome home and thanks for your thoughtful post.

I spent a week in India way back in 1987. My ship, the USS Crommelin (FFG-37) was the first ship to make port in Bombay in over 17 years. We docked in the inner harbor in the city after going through a series if locks.

The dichotomy between the very poor and the wealthy was shocking.

At night we went to a series of hosted parties, at the Embassy, aboard the Indian aircraft carrier, etc...lots of wealthy folks taking us to dinner as well. During the day we were free to go wherever we pleased.

I know this may sound trivial, but that week had a profound impact on my life. There are too many sad episodes on the real poverty and caste system absurdities to recount, but one I saw everyday is worth telling.

In front of our ship grain ships would come in and get unloaded manually, sack by sack. Under the gangplanks whole families would survive by sifting the dirt beneath the gangplank in search of the grain that fell from the grain sacks as they were carried off the ship. I walked by them everyday.

I began to look at my own squawks and squabbles in a whole new light.