For the past decade, Gregory H. Curry has taught electrical installation on a part-time basis at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). Some of his students were aware that he was a former Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officer. What most of them did not know was that their instructor nearly gave his life for this country.

Curry was one of the crew members on board the RBDF vessel, the HMBS Flamingo, on May 10, 1980, when it was attacked in Bahamian waters after apprehending two Cuban vessels for poaching. That day he nearly lost his life in a merciless attack by Cuban jets.

"It wasn't an accident... it was an incident," recalled the electrical installation instructor who was 25 years old at the time.

He vividly remembers the loud, rapid sounds of rocket and machine guns, the engine room erupting in fire, the gaping five-foot hole that opened on the starboard side of the sleeping quarters and even having his life jacket stuck in the propeller of a dory while being rescued.

"One rocket went right through the galley and exploded. It was on fire and we were just about to go there to eat before this happened. Hot metal also burst after the first attack."

Eventually, the HMBS' captain, Amos Rolle, ordered the crew to abandon ship. "It was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I dove as deep as I could, and all I could see was the bullets shooting through the water," recalled the survivor of the harrowing experience.

One week after the attacks, I was still picking metal out of my back," he recalled.

"May 10th brings back serious memories. Every year, it's like a punishment," said the 57-year-old. "The sadness isn't as deep. Time heals anything," said Curry, who retired as RBDF chief petty officer on August 1, 2011.

Curry, who was the HMBS' electrical technician and senior radio operator, firmly believes the only reason sharks stayed away was because of the diesel which leaked from the ship's tanks. He also acknowledged that divine intervention was paramount to his survival. This is captured in the work of local artist Kishan Munroe, who is currently staging an extraordinary exhibition that throws the spotlight on the painful episode. The exhibition at The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is dubbed, "Swan Song of the Flamingo".

"Everything we said, he actually painted. He has a photo of me swimming with two flamingos holding my jackets, like spirit flamingos.

I almost cried when I saw it. It touched me to my very soul," said Curry.

He said it was only fate that the crew was fewer in number that day, otherwise he believes the outcome of the attack may have been more disastrous.

Four defense force crew members perished that day -- Able Seaman, Fenrick Sturrup, Marine Seamen David Tucker, Edward Williams and Austin Smith.

The surviving defense force officers were able to escape. But even when they made their way through bushes on Ragged Island, it was not truly over.

Curry said at daybreak the next morning, a jet buzzed over the island several times, terrifying the Ragged Islanders.

"Those people in Ragged Island went crazy. They thought they were under attack. They terrified the people," said Curry.

"They were as close as 30 feet above ground. Those people were shaking like leaves." The effects of the incident left the RBDF officers traumatized.

He said on their flight to New Providence from Ragged Island, some of the officers took cover under their seats when a flight attendant opened a can of soda pop.

"They were still shell-shocked," he said. When Curry walked out of the gates at the Coral Harbour Base, after his retirement, he said he did so with a sense of satisfaction that he had served his country well for 37 years.

Now he says he enjoys being around the young people at BTVI, and as such, working at the post-secondary educational institution is a good fit for him.

"I enjoy expressing myself and teaching them the right way. I like when they actually get it and they get it perfect. I love teaching," he said.

Curry has been teaching part-time at the technical institute for approximately 10 years. He caught the teaching bug while in the defense force, after his induction into the technical training program. He did so well that he was encouraged to continue in the training department since then.

The electrical instructor is a firm believer in the importance of getting an education, and his life is actually a testament to that. He began studies towards an associate's degree at the age of 50.

The former Queen's College student, who attended C.R. Walker Technical College for a year after he graduated high school, had joined the marine division of the police force, prior to joining the defense force.

As he attained his 50th birthday, he came to the realization that at age 55 he would have to automatically retire from the RBDF, but that he did not have as much education as he would need in the real world.

With marine experience and national exams to his credit, he said he knew that would not be enough education to secure the position he wanted after retirement from the defense force.

Curry began studies towards obtaining his first degree at nights. There were many nights when he said he and his children were heading up homework papers together. Today he has a son studying medicine, another studying law and one who is a musician. He is proud that he has sons who value education.

"I'm convinced I was fortunate because I had no problems with my kids and they were into their education. When they told me what they wanted to do, I said to myself they're reaching too high ... even though I never said it to them.

But they got into The College of The Bahamas and their grades were good and they just soared from there," he said. He also explains to his students at BTVI about the importance of getting an education.

"At BTVI we do a lot of work by hand, but I tell the guys that they have to have some level of academics and that they have to have an education. We have to instill in the kids that you need to get something and not leave with nothing," he said.

"The bottom line is that right now you can't achieve anything without that education, if you want to climb the ladder another step you have to get an education. We have a lot of adults down there as well [at BTVI] and I say the same thing to them... don't just do Electrical 1 and II, but get your licence and get qualified," he said.

Today, life goes on for Curry. Due to the experience, the husband and father of three admits to not being afraid of much.

"It took away a lot of my fears. Nothing much really frightens me. I survived that for a reason. I have three sons -- I survived so they could be here and I await to see their roles in life," he said. While most of his students do not know what he's been through in his life, when they do ask, he opens up about his experience.

"I don't usually talk about it, but if one of them asks me about the incident I talk about it, I don't shy away from it. I'll talk to the guys," he said. "These young guys make me feel young. A lot of them stay behind and talk to me and I give advice," he said.

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