Even though my dream was always to be a sailor, and always dreamed of being on a destroyer in spite of all the scary stories I heard about them on rough seas with waves going over them! I joined the army because all my uncles had been in the army. I felt sort of like I would be breaking a family tradition if I joined the navy. And having an uncle that was once the youngest master sargeant painting a picture of gaining more education, and being able to choose where I want to be stationed and what specialized training.
I chose 14th armored cavalry at fort knox. Unfortunatly the army had different plans :(

I lived about 2 houses away from the norfolk shipyard where my father worked. And my favorite passtime since the 2nd grade, was to stand outside the fence and watch the ships and the cranes on the towers that moved around in the water.

Eventually I discovered I could sneak into the shipyard, because all the guards got so used to seeing me that they ignored me as if I was part of the scenery :)

I would sneak past the drydock where I used to watch sailors scrape the ships, then I would get past the guards and walk around the decks of the old ships (tubs?).
I got caught 2 times...the second time I was caught I was escorted all the way home and into the livingroom by a navy officer. That experience was scary enough that I never sneaked inside that shipyard again!
The big warships in drydock and at the other pier had too many guards.