Molokai, Hawaii (Aug. 17, 2018) — U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Adnan Zeb, a hospital corpsman assigned to Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base and currently taking part in a readiness training mission on the Hawaiian island of Molokai, has turned his love of tropical fish into a personal pastime.
“I was born in Bangladesh,” said Zeb. “Bangladeshi people are crazy about fish.”
A childhood experience with his father first introduced Zeb to fish tanks. From there, Zeb was hooked.
“My dad used to take me to the barbershop that had fish tanks,” said Zeb. “That’s how I got addicted.”
Later on, Zeb’s father bought him his first fish tank. Zeb’s mother, however, was not as crazy about fish tanks and did not let Zeb keep fish for long. That changed once Zeb left home.
“When I got older, I was able to keep tanks myself,” said Zeb. “The day after I arrived in the U.S., I went to the exotic fish and animal store. It was right next to my house. I thought, ‘oh, gosh! My dream is coming true!’ So I bought a tank and a lot of saltwater fish.”
Since then, Zeb’s hobby has grown in a significant way.
“I have 27 tanks,” said Zeb. “One tank is a freshwater tank, and the rest are saltwater. My smallest tank is 20 gallons. The biggest is 150 gallons. I have all kinds of fish. I take care of them as my water babies. They are very happy, and they’re doing very well.”
Of course, serving in the Navy adds a degree complexity to maintaining Zeb’s hobby.
“When I was stationed in California, my chief allowed me to have as many tanks as I wanted,” said Zeb. “Then, I got stationed on an aircraft carrier. I remember telling the doctor I worked with in the emergency room, ‘how will I survive without my tanks?’ The doctor told me, ‘don’t worry, Zeb. You’ll be living in a big tank. That’s the ocean.’”
Indeed, training exercises like Tropic Care Maui County 2018, which provides medical troops and support personnel readiness training to prepare for future deployments while providing direct and lasting benefits to the people of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, have provided Zeb with opportunities to see different aspects of his hobby. Naturally, Zeb has taken advantage of those opportunities.
“Yesterday, I saw many beautiful puffers,” said Zeb. “I’ve never seen those kinds before. Hawaii is the Mecca for all saltwater fish. You don’t find them anywhere else.”
Seeing the fish he loves in the wild gives Zeb serenity.
“I love seeing the fish I love in their natural habitat,” said Zeb. “The peace and calmness when I see them swimming around makes me feel like they are in heaven. It reminds me there are so many beautiful things in this world.”
Moreover, others who have gotten to know Zeb recognize his love for tropical fish.
“He makes you take a second look at a fish and see it really is beautiful. Otherwise you wouldn’t give it a second thought,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Derek Yurko, a traffic management specialist assigned to the 194th Wing, who used to live on Guam and saw fish all the time. Yurko is serving with Zeb on the Tropic Care mission.
While Zeb will not always have opportunities to see countless numbers of tropical fish in the wild, he will remember experiences like Tropic Care Maui County 2018 and the chance to see the very same fish he has in his own tanks—in the wild.
“When I see them in nature, it makes me see the beauty of everything,” said Zeb.
Until the Navy or a personal trip provides another opportunity to travel to view marine wildlife, Zeb can take comfort in caring for his fish at home. In the meantime, Zeb plans to take advantage of his remaining time in Hawaii to explore the ocean and see the fish he loves in their natural habitat.
| Date Taken: |
08.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: |
08.19.2018 16:11 |
| Story ID: |
289395 |
| Location: |
KAUNAKAKAI, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: |
125 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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This work, Tropic Care Profile: Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Adnan Zeb, by Capt. Jonathan Padish, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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