by Garland Davis
Many people subscribe to be notified when a new article is posted in Tales Of An Asia Sailor. In the last few days, some of you have questioned why you are not being notified. No one has been removed from the notification list. I have not been writing or posting!
I have been living with Parkinson’s disease for about 15 years. The reduced mobility was one reason I started writing Tales. In 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a regimen of CHEMO and Radiation treatments. While being examined for cataract surgery in 2022, I was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. My eyesight is failing. Every day, it becomes more difficult to see clearly.
I do not anticipate writing more or adding to the posts in Tales. I will keep the platform alive as long as I live. I’m unsure how long that will be; I will turn 79 in a few days.
You may read or reread the previous posts. I had always intended to take my life stories at sea and our liberties and publish them in book form, but the combination of my ailments and procrastination ran me out of time.
Thanks for reading and commenting on Tales Of An Asia Sailor!
Garland G. Davis, Chief Petty Officer, USN(Ret)
Tales of an Asia Sailor 
Fair winds and following seas, Garland. I have really enjoyed your posts over the past years.
Unfortunately, none of us gets out of this deal alive…keep the coffee pot on for the rest of us when we check in.
CWO4 Greg Van Hof, Ret
LikeLike
Gsrland, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and appreciate that you continued to post with your difficulties.
LikeLike
As a fellow chief who has enjoyed all your tails of sea stories, with calls at port stops along the way I can only wish you the best. As I can relate from my time on Westpark duty.
LikeLike
Good on ya Shipmate.
LikeLike
Garland, we all age, and become unable to communicate easily. Unlike you, I have not written down many of my precious memories,, ad they will go with me into the grave.
Many great memories of days and nights at sea, with the company of men and women who chose the same life-style, who enjoyed the many sunsets and sun rises far from land. Visiting various ports, each different, each the same.
Each of us suffering the ill effects of things such as Agent Orange in our drinking, eating, and wash water.
Memories of shipmates, of friends, of life after the Service. Seeing our wide, wonderful world up-close and personal. Of making friends and losing friends
Nearing the end, my main regret is that I, unlike you and others, neglected to make some sort of record of my experiences, good and bad.
I have lived a good life, wandering widely across this planet. Sharing where I could, doing my little good deeds along the way. Enjoying the company of good people and bad, always forging ahead.
I thank you, and other commentators on your pages, for the wide insights you have granted me.
Craig Wilcox, currently of Kenton, OH, but a citizen of the world, and a lover of salt water.
Sent from Mailhttps://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986 for Windows
LikeLike
I wish you all the best Chief! Please take care of your health above all else. You are in our Prayers.
LikeLike
Chief Garland,
Thank You for all the tales you have shared with us over the Years.
I enjoy them because they are written with a enlisted Man’s perspective of which I was one. As a Former BT I particularly enjoy your Snipe Tales!
We certainly were a bunch of Misfits!👹 stay well and continue to enjoy Your retirement.⚓️🇺🇸
LikeLike
Chief Garland,
I have followed many of your stories and enjoyed them all. I even added a few comments to them. It is sad to hear that you are suffering of several physical issues. I will keep you in my prayers.
An old sailor myself, as Fire Control Technician. Was First Class, but having reached the end of my 8 year service, and there was only one Fire Control Chief who got advanced to Chief in 1976! I left the Navy on Bastile Day!
Thank you for all of your tales! You did a darn good job on them!
LikeLike
Thank you Shipmate!! I will Definitely be Praying for You!! I will be 70 in July!! Machinist Mate served 72-77 and 83-89!! Love your Posts!!
LikeLike
Sorry to hear of your myriad medical issues, sadly I can relate. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your posts, they brought back many memories of a different era, an era today’s sailors may never experience. Not certain how I survived some of my antics from times in Subic, Kaohsiung, Yokosuka, Puson and the list goes on. I just pray the memories never die while I’m alive, it was a life I’ll never forget.
HMCM(SW) Bob Cornish (ret)
LikeLike
Sad News! I deduced from your writings that your health was failing. Failing, like in school, only puts you back a grade. Don’t give up and quit! You could have many years of life. I hope you can adapt to the changes!
LikeLike
Chief Davis, Thanks for the update. I will pray for your recovery and will be thinking of you .Warm regards, Ned Barrett.
LikeLike
Thnx for the stories Chief! Your stories remind me of so many things I experienced and or heard about from other WestPac sailors. I look back on those times with honor, sadness, laughter, and a strong longing for the old days.
Sorry to hear about your health situation. Golden years are sometimes (most times) not so golden. I just turned 70 and have begun dealing with my own age related ailments. It sucks but the alternative really sucks.
Cheers to you from a former WestPac sailor
LikeLike
Always enjoyed your stories, having been twice statationed in Japan and twice in Subic PI in the good old days.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
LikeLiked by 1 person
as they say, fair winds and following seas from a fellow EMC about to also turn 79. The tales of westpac from the 60’s are legendary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
God bless you,Chief, and thank you for sharing your life with us. We all treasure the memories of our time as Asia Sailors, and have relived them through your writings and photos.
LikeLike
Sorry to hear we wont be getting anymore tales Garland and I really appreciated and enjoyed the ones you sent. Brought back a lot of memories especially being a snipe as I had many friends who were BTs. Rest easy bud and dont try anymore Roomba experiments.
Thanks much;
R Eddy, MMC retired
Sent from Mailhttps://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986 for Windows
LikeLike
Thanks Chief.
LikeLike
Happy Birthday Chief!! Please don’t throw in the towel no matter how rough the sea may be, we your humble deck apes are counting on you! Remember the old USN motto, “things aren’t going as planned, time to get a new plan”.. You can do it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gonna miss your tales
Take care shipmate
LikeLike
Chief,
<
div>I cannot tell you how much I have loved your writing. I was a young Ensign
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing your entertaining memories.
LikeLike
Thank you for turning back the calendar, and taking me back to a time and place that had long been lost in the mist of time. Those of us who had the honor of serving in the Navy back when it was the Navy have a unique set of memories that only our shipmates can relate to. Your posts and stories took me back there, if only for a short time. I will continue to read them. I wish you the very best for the remainder of your journey.
LikeLike
Thanks for the work you do and have writing the rules. God bless you
LikeLike
Thank you Chief, for all the tales. All were fun to read, and one brought a mist to my eyes (tale about old Sailor crossing the S-River bridge outside Subic, and dies with a smile, as he sees a vision of his lost love). Stay strong brother, and Godspeed. Semper Fi! from an old retired Marine (73-94). Westpac, Iwakuni, Okinawa, and Subic Marine (Station Ditto -Barrio Runner).
LikeLike