Keep Calm & Carry On

Posted on by Colleen M. Chesebro

The Carrot Ranch flash fiction November 11, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the phrase “carry on.” It can be an expression of perseverance or behaving in a particular way. It can even be luggage you take when traveling. Go where the prompt leads!

Respond by November 16, 2021.

View: 33 Powerful Photos of Military Women Serving their Country

“Airman, halt!”

I stopped dead in my tracks. I’d executed a sharp salute to the captain who’d walked past me on the other side of the sidewalk. Now, he scrutinized my uniform with piercing eyes.

“Airman, where is your Vietnam Campaign ribbon?”

Not this again, I thought.

“Sir, my date of induction was after the last date for the Vietnam Campaign. I can show you, my orders.”

I reached into my purse and handed him the well creased set of military induction orders.

He glanced at the orders and nodded. “Carry on, Airman.”

“Yes, Sir.” Then, I carried on!

This is a true story. I enlisted in the Air Force in 1976. The Vietnam Campaign officially ended in 1975, but that didn’t stop the officers from asking, anyway!

31 thoughts on “Keep Calm & Carry On”

  1. Interesting, Colleen. I don’t know much about military protocol. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a Vietnam Campaign ribbon, nor that it was something you had to wear (if you had it).

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    1. Oh yes… we all had ribbons we earned which we were required to wear on our dress blues. I was an administrative person so I was always in dress blues. They did it to harrass the women more than anything else. When I went in, women were rare.

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    1. LOL! Oh yes, we were all airmen! There was “supposedly” no difference between the men and women serving. These tactics were more to harass us than anything else. After you received a bit of rank, they eased off some. You literally were not to think for yourself. Who knew? 🤷🏼‍♀️ LOL!

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    1. True. Yet it makes me sad that we’re not farther along with women’s equality. The military was the only place that I made the same amount of money as a man. The rank structure was based on our knowledge and testing. That was a plus.

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      1. That, at least. Is good to know. I remember at my first design job when we discovered the one man in our entry position was making considerably more than the women. We were told it was because he was more “promotable”.

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    1. Ha, ha! There were many like this, Doug. This was one of my milder stories. It was the way he said, “Carry on,” that was so demeaning. But this was typical treatment. As women we had to work harder to prove that we could do the job as well as a man… and I was an administrative assistant! 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

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  7. Crazy story – in the sense that this was such a prevalent attitude everywhere, and certainly, as you’ve noted in the comments, most definitely in the military. But then, traditions die hard, along with attitudes. Change is always so slow to come to pass. Thankfully though, you came through it all, with flying colours, although that’s not to dismiss just how discouraging and hurtful these types of experiences are. But fortitude isn’t something that one has drilled into one – and so it’s no surprise to me that now, years later, you can also shrug it off some, knowing you’re so much stronger and a “better” person – being extremely compassionate and understanding of both the times and era, as well having come well and truly into your own, in your own way.

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    1. That’s the age and wisdom part, isn’t it? I’m sad that we’ve not developed into a more equal society. The entire world seems to be in the throes of an identity crisis. We seem to be moving backward in time. I only hope we find the strength to regain a sense of decency for our fellow man and woman. I benefited greatly from my time in service to America. I felt it was my duty even at a young age. ❤

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      1. Perhaps if we hold Light and Love in our hearts – but you know, the “birthing process” is hard and difficult, and often we must fall deep into the darkness before we find and emerge in light.

        I’m sure your service in the military was enriching and offered many valuable lessons and experiences – and of course, we have to remember to acknowledge the positives too! And even as I’m Canadian, I do make it a point to say “Thank you for your service” (because ultimately, as we’ve been discussing, we’re all in this together, regardless of borders and boundaries).

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        1. December 3rd my kitchen and first floor renovation begins. I’ve got to pack up the kitchen and downstairs sitting room and move it to the basement. We definitely need to catch up before my craziness starts. 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️❤️

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  9. Carry on, Witch! I’m chuckling, Colleen, because it finally occurred to me that you were Air Force, so of course, you know how to fly a broom! Ah, I also get the stoicism of having to shore something because of official eras that don’t align with actual service. You and Todd both served in “Peace Time.” Some peace, eh.. Great BOTS!

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    1. Right? Unfortunately I didn’t come into my “personal power” until I was much older. Peace time is an entirely different experience. The culture of the military is to blindly follow and ask no questions! 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️❤️

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