America 1982-Chapter 336 - 25: Tony’s Best Choice_3
Following the championship battle, due to excessive physical exhaustion and reduction in their numbers, they met with victory at the West Point Military Academy but were defeated, ultimately securing the runner-up position.
With this second-place finish, Tony received the Officer Cadet Team Cooperation Medal awarded by the academy.
The second achievement was his initiative to lead the Fraternity in establishing an SSD Naval Academy Chapter, which launched a campaign called "Men of Character" on campus, advocating male cadets to refrain from forcing female cadets to do certain things, but rather learn to respect women, even if it cost them some money.
This initiative earned the SSD an award for character on campus, and as a leader, Tony received a letter of commendation for leadership handwritten by the dean.
It might sound like the character initiative was nothing special, but in reality, promoting respect for women in military academies filled with chauvinistic men was no easy task.
Therefore, under Tony’s leadership, the SSD used their financial capability to interact with beauties, and following the launch of the Men of Character campaign, both the academy and the navy clung to the handy weapon amid overwhelming problems, proclaiming the SSD’s club behavior as a spontaneous act of all male students at the academy, indicating that our boys respect women very much. All scandals were exaggerated with malice, and they preferred spending money to date girls rather than the various coercive acts rumored outside.
It was these honors that allowed Tony to choose where to start his naval career even before he had officially graduated.
"I’ve noticed in the news that the United States Navy has already launched 594 ships this year, only six shy of Reagan’s election promise of 600 ships to surpass the Soviet Union. However, the problem is that, although there are many ships, there aren’t enough matching officers and personnel, leaving many vacancies. So, if you, as an Ensign, volunteer for these ships or naval bases overseas after graduation, you’ll have more opportunities for promotion than you would stateside," Tommy turned his head and looked at his brother:
"Moreover, your attitude of volunteering to board ships or be stationed overseas makes it easy for me to get you the United States Navy Overseas Service Ribbon and the United States Navy Officer Candidate Honor Graduate Ribbon from former Secretary of the Navy Thomas Hayward on your official graduation. Don’t underestimate these ribbons; they’ll be forever inscribed into your record and life history, telling everyone in America that you once volunteered to serve overseas for your country."
Tony was somewhat taken aback and then lowered his head, speaking reluctantly, "Tommy, are you sure you can’t find me a position stateside? It’s not that I’m afraid to die in a war, it’s just... you know? If I go overseas, I might not get a chance to come home on leave for years."
"Hawaii. I’ll have Jim go and donate some money to the Thomas Hayward Foundation and ask that former Navy Secretary how the fleet in Hawaii is doing, to help you pick a pretty nice ship. How about that?" Without responding directly to his brother’s concern, Tommy smiled and said, "I’ll buy a big house in Hawaii for Ashley so that Dad, Bessie, and Ashley can vacation there whenever they want, stay as long as they like, and ensure Ashley doesn’t end up stuck living with you in some miserable officers’ quarters."
"One last question, why are you so insistent on me serving overseas?" Upon hearing his brother’s arrangements, Tony stopped questioning because this guy was ready to buy property in Hawaii directly with cash, bringing the family over for a vacation to alleviate his homesickness. That alone would make him more fortunate than 99% of naval personnel.
Tommy looked towards the people grilling in the distance and spoke softly, "Because the news in the newspapers and what you just said are both telling me one thing, and that is that America is about to go to war overseas. If you stay stateside, how could you have the opportunity to earn those medals that only war veterans receive?"
"Are you talking about the Navy’s Operation Praying Mantis in the Persian Gulf? That it could lead to war with Iran?" Tony wasn’t startled by Tommy’s suggestion of a potential war breaking out overseas, as U.S. Navy military operations abroad had never ceased.
Not long ago, the U.S. Navy dispatched six ships, four planes, and two special operations squads to attack two Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf, seizing them and then setting the oil wells ablaze.
The reason being Iran had previously attacked a Kuwaiti oil tanker under the protection of the U.S. Navy.
"I don’t know what war it will be, but whatever war breaks out, as long as it’s not with the Soviet Union, you don’t have to worry about dying in battle. Instead, among the 594 ships of the U.S. Navy, a bunch of medal recipients will emerge. Otherwise, why do you think your brother gave you the chance to work in Washington’s office and chose to embark on a ship himself?" Tommy turned around, looking earnestly at Tony:
"He might have given you this precious opportunity out of friendship, but only because his father offered him an even better option, clearly, embarking on a ship was that better choice."
