EASTHAMPTON — It’s not every day that best friends get to celebrate their birthdays and the 60th anniversary of their military service together, but that’s just what happened when city natives Robert Adams and Michael “Micky” Young got together Sunday to reminisce about joining the U.S. Navy together six decades ago.
After graduating from Easthampton High School in 1965, Adams, Young and another friend were walking through the post office when a military recruiter popped their head out of an office.
“We became friends in high school …,” Young said about his friendship with Adams. “I played athletics and he watched. I used to go up to his house all the time.”
The two originally tried to get into the U.S. Coast Guard, but Adams failed a required eye exam. The recruiter, however, said he could get them into the Navy and to boot camp in sunny California, a much preferred destination over the location most eastern-based recruits would go in Michigan. Adams explained that with a big draft push at the height of the Vietnam War, the three friends gladly accepted the Navy invitation.
After boot camp, Young was stationed in Florida, taking multiple trips to Vietnam on an aircraft carrier during his four years of service before being discharged in 1969. In 1971, he tagged along with a good friend who was joining the U.S. Navy Reserve in Weymouth. Though he had no intention of joining the Reserves, Young did just that and two weeks later left for Dallas.
Young was a member of the Reserves for 22 years, earning the rank of Aviation Electrician Chief Petty Officer E-7 by the time he retired. After his time with the military ended, he became an aircraft technician in Dallas for American Airlines before eventually retiring and moving back to Easthampton in 2021.
Meanwhile, Adams was stationed for two years in Japan, serving temporary duty in Vietnam as an aircraft survival equipmentman. After finishing service, he pursued a career as a professional pilot, starting in January 1973.
Later, he joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Westover, until retiring in 1995 as an air transportation superintendent with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant E-9. He officially retired from flying in 2022 and now lives in Saratoga, Florida.
Throughout those years, the two were able to stay in touch, particularly through their careers in aviation, when Adams would stop in Dallas on airplane visits to Young. They would meet-up multiple times a year, getting together on many family vacations.
“Whenever we had time, we would go on family vacations and Micky would join us,” Adams said. “We’ve been very fortunate to be friends.”
On Sunday, Adams flew from Saratoga and the two reunited for their 80th birthdays and the anniversary celebration. Young’s birthday is Oct. 7 and Adams’ is on Dec. 15. Since their birthdays are close together, Young’s sister, Bonnie Young, decided to wrap it in with their anniversary into one party that she had been planning since the winter.
“Their relationship is awesome,” said Bonnie Young. “They have been close friends for 60-plus years.”
On Sunday, the two walked into the American Legion Post 224 in their hometown of Easthampton, where family and friends waited to surprise them while singing happy birthday, enjoying food and cracking jokes.
“I just really appreciate everyone here,” Young said about the party. “When you get to our age you start to lose so many family and friends.”
“Thank you guys for your service. I think I speak for everybody when I say it’s pretty remarkable to serve a full military career …,” said Easthampton Veterans Agent Thomas Geryk. “It really takes dedication and a love for your country. When I served, I served in the Air Force, we had three core values and it was integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. So as a junior NCO, I looked up to guys like these.”
At the party, Geryk presented Young and Adams with a citation from state Sen. John Velis and signed by members of the State Senate, congratulating the two on their successful careers.
Additionally, state Rep. Homar Gómez was in attendance to present a similar citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
“Thank you for service …,” said Gómez. “When you serve and defend your country serving in the same branch, you have to be more than friends, you have to be brothers.”