JACKSONVILLE, FL - What happens in Thailand stays in Thailand, but apparently not for Chief Rick Wilson. During a speech at the retirement ceremony of his friend, Senior Chief Eric “Scooter” McGavin, Wilson became flustered after a failed joke and began telling stories about a port call in Pattaya, Thailand.
McGavin’s retirement ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon at Naval Station Mayport, in the Foc’sle CPO Club. McGavin’s wife Sheila was in attendance, as was Laura Sanderson, his 18-year-old daughter from a previous marriage.
After Chaplain Warren Sperling gave the opening prayer, Wilson walked to the podium and took out a thick stack of index cards. “I’m sorry for the notes,” Wilson said. “I get nervous talking in front of crowds.”
Wilson looked down at his index cards and leafed through them until he found the one he was looking for. Then he read aloud, “How many days are there in a retiree’s week? Two. Six Saturdays and one Sunday.”
