One cold, rainy night in 1979, staying on the deck of the nuclear attack submarine USS Birmingham entering Hampton Roads Harbor, a soldier who was called Jeff Harris was suddenly hit by a huge wave that took away his ship's ball cap.
One
cold
,
rainy
night
in
1979
,
staying
on
the
deck
of
the
nuclear
attack
submarine
USS
Birmingham
entering
Hampton
Roads
Harbor
,
a
soldier
who
was
called
Jeff
Harris
was
suddenly
hit
by
a
huge
wave
that
took
away
his
ship
's
ball
cap
.
Months later, while walking along Chesapeake Boulevard beach in Hampton, Will Miller, a Vietnam veteran and Navy commander, happened to find Harris' cap which was half-buried in the sand then.
Months
later
,
while
walking
along
Chesapeake
Boulevard
beach
in
Hampton
,
Will
Miller
,
a
Vietnam
veteran
and
Navy
commander
,
happened
to
find
Harris
'
cap
which
was
half-buried
in
the
sand
then
.
Knowing how important a ship's cap was to its owner, Miller saved the hat, hoping one day to find its owner.
Knowing
how
important
a
ship
's
cap
was
to
its
owner
,
Miller
saved
the
hat
,
hoping
one
day
to
find
its
owner
.
The cap was packed away for years but recently appeared again at Miller's home in Florida.
The
cap
was
packed
away
for
years
but
recently
appeared
again
at
Miller
's
home
in
Florida
.
"It suddenly fell out of a box onto my computer keyboard, right in front of me," said Miller.
``
It
suddenly
fell
out
of
a
box
onto
my
computer
keyboard
,
right
in
front
of
me
,
''
said
Miller
.
"I guessed it was telling me, 'It's time to get me home."'
``
I
guessed
it
was
telling
me
,
'It
's
time
to
get
me
home
.
'
''
An extensive Internet search led Miller to a USS Birmingham website and finally to Harris.
An
extensive
Internet
search
led
Miller
to
a
USS
Birmingham
website
and
finally
to
Harris
.
The two sent e-mails back and forth, and one night Miller's phone rang.
The
two
sent
e-mails
back
and
forth
,
and
one
night
Miller
's
phone
rang
.
"This is Jeff Harris," the voice on the phone said.
``
This
is
Jeff
Harris
,
''
the
voice
on
the
phone
said
.
"You have my hat!"
``
You
have
my
hat
!
''
The two sailors talked for almost half an hour, telling sea stories to each other and thinking of the common relationship between seamen."
The
two
sailors
talked
for
almost
half
an
hour
,
telling
sea
stories
to
each
other
and
thinking
of
the
common
relationship
between
seamen
.
''
"Most non-seagoing people wouldn't understand how much a sailor likes his hat," Miller said.
``
Most
non-seagoing
people
would
n't
understand
how
much
a
sailor
likes
his
hat
,
''
Miller
said
.
"Your hat protects you from sun, wind, salt and cold, and when you lose it, especially one with your ship's name on it, it's a big thing.
``
Your
hat
protects
you
from
sun
,
wind
,
salt
and
cold
,
and
when
you
lose
it
,
especially
one
with
your
ship
's
name
on
it
,
it
's
a
big
thing
.
I'm delighted to get it back to Jeff."
I
'm
delighted
to
get
it
back
to
Jeff
.
''
One cold, rainy night in 1979, staying on the deck of the nuclear attack submarine USS Birmingham entering Hampton Roads Harbor, a soldier who was called Jeff Harris was suddenly hit by a huge wave that took away his ship's ball cap.  Months later, while walking along Chesapeake Boulevard beach in Hampton, Will Miller, a Vietnam veteran and Navy commander, happened to find Harris' cap which was half-buried in the sand then. Knowing how important a ship's cap was to its owner, Miller saved the hat, hoping one day to find its owner. The cap was packed away for years but recently appeared again at Miller's home in Florida.  "It suddenly fell out of a box onto my computer keyboard, right in front of me," said Miller. "I guessed it was telling me, 'It's time to get me home."'  An extensive Internet search led Miller to a USS Birmingham website and finally to Harris. The two sent e-mails back and forth, and one night Miller's phone rang.  "This is Jeff Harris," the voice on the phone said. "You have my hat!"  The two sailors talked for almost half an hour, telling sea stories to each other and thinking of the common relationship between seamen."  "Most non-seagoing people wouldn't understand how much a sailor likes his hat," Miller said. "Your hat protects you from sun, wind, salt and cold, and when you lose it, especially one with your ship's name on it, it's a big thing. I'm delighted to get it back to Jeff."