Son: "Dad, I joined the navy to see the world"
Dad: "Well, do you like what you've seen so far?"
Son: "Well, I learned that the world is 70% water".
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Spent about a year at sea — two 6 month WESTPACs in 1983 and 1984.
Always enjoyed the isolation from the world on the water.
Have always believed that returning from war by sea allows one to better transition vs returning by plane. The sea helps one better process trauma.
Just my theory. Was never in combat.
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Whether it is the sea itself, or the mental distancing that occurs by the time spent in the transition from combat to home via the sea, I believe there is value there.
Same caveat: I wasn't in combat either, but your theory just makes sense to me.