Shipmate Stories: Life Aboard the USS Kitty Hawk with Billy Lee Masten

In this episode, host James R. Cheatham sits down with his former shipmate Billy Lee Masten — a Ships Serviceman (SH) who served aboard the legendary USS Kitty Hawk. Together they revisit the steel decks, the long deployments, and the high-stakes world of keeping an aircraft carrier running and ready. Billy shares what it was like growing up in Axtell, Texas, joining the Navy, and spending years as a SH. He opens up about life at sea, the unexpected moments that stay with you, and the powerful homecoming that brought him back to his family after years away. From the grind of shipboard life to the quieter challenges of transitioning to the civilian world, Billy’s story is one of service, resilience, and finding home again. This is a conversation about what the Navy takes, what it gives, and the life that continues after the uniform comes off. Tune in for sea stories, honest reflections, and one of those rare journeys that feels both deeply personal and universally human.

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