Monthly Archives: November 2023

Recent Posts

Why all these Collisions?

4 Comments

I do not subscribe to the WSJ; therefore, I am unable to read the article upon which these gentlemen are commenting. However, from their comments I can surmise that the original author is blaming all sorts of things on the collision(s) the Navy experienced. I received this via an email from a very good friend, a Naval Officer with whom I shared a stateroom for a year aboard the US Chicago in the Vietnam era, and one for who I have the highest degree of respect. We both believe the same; this would never have happened on board the “Mighty Chi.” We ran PIRAZ (Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone — at least that’s what I remember it was called) in the Gulf of Tonkin. I can remember OOD’s sharing horrid tales in the wardroom of the 100’s of sailing junks with no lights all around the ship as we neared our western zone, and the constant maneuvering they had to do to avoid collisions. I believe this small portion of the total comments speak heavily of what may be the “real” and inexpensive solution to this particular problem. My comments are in red. You decide.

Navy Has Many Causes for Its Poor Sailing

These collisions are unacceptable and I would expect both the captain and OOD of the McCain to be court-martialed.

 

The damaged USS John S. McCain, docked in Singapore, Aug. 22. PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aug. 30, 2017 4:37 p.m. ET

Regarding your editorial “The Navy’s McCain Moment” (Aug. 22) and Seth Cropsey’s “Has the Navy Reached Its Breaking Point?” (op-ed, Aug. 24): I served on a carrier during the Vietnam War and my principal duty was that of a watch officer. I went through countless hours of trading watches, serving first as a junior officer of the deck under instruction, then a junior officer of the deck and finally reached the pinnacle of officer of the deck underway.

We had captain’s standing orders for use when the captain wasn’t on the bridge. One of the most important was when to call him when we had a contact that was CBDR, constant bearing-closing range. That indicated a potential collision. When passing through heavily transited areas, i.e., Gibraltar, which we always did at night, we had the captain, executive officer, navigator and, of course, the officer of the desk (OOD) on the bridge. We posted extra lookouts for boats which didn’t show navigation lights. When in the Mediterranean we were constantly shadowed by Russian trawlers which harassed us. I never heard of any collisions during that period.

I’m struck by the spate of collisions, but even more concerned when I enlarged the photo of the USS McCain, which showed a rusting, ill-kept warship. We had paint crews out every time we entered or anchored in ports. The discipline to keep shipshape was imbued in us, as was the safety of the ship.

The captain bears the ultimate responsibility, and the OOD is in total command of the ship. These collisions are unacceptable, and I would expect both the captain and OOD of the McCain to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty and manslaughter. And I suggest rather than having our fleet standing down, the CNO enact training standards for OOD’s in the Navy. Amen!

David A. Rosow, Lt. j.g. USNR (Ret.)

Palm Beach, Fla.

I was the officer of the deck on the USS Santa Barbara when we sailed through the Singapore Strait in the dead of night. It was tense due to all the traffic. I changed course and speed multiple times, following the rules of the sea to prevent any collision.

I was trained by a very experienced Navy destroyer captain who told us never ever be in a situation where you had to rely on another ship to follow the rules of the sea to avoid a collision. Amen, he was trained by a “Skipper,” who was trained by a “Skipper.”

Bill Person

Bloomfield Village, Mich.

Another Naval collision. More U.S. sailors killed and injured. Yet, all the Journal editors can do is demand more spending. Military sources claim that during the last six years over 200 generals and admirals were ousted by the Obama administration. Retired Maj. Gen. Robert Dees stated the political “mandate for social agendas . . . declines our readiness. We’re spending more time on some of these social engineering projects than on developing and maintaining readiness in our force.” OMG, he has nailed it square on the head. I’ll bet that OOD on watch that night can recite all the rules of dealing with a transgender or gay sailor.

How is it possible that swift, maneuverable U.S. Navy combat ships have twice collided with lumbering cargo ships? Is it possible officers are promoted to command not only on merit, but due to their conformity with a social agenda ahead of military readiness? Could it be possible that families are burying their sailors at the altar of politically imposed social engineering? AMEN again!!

Before throwing money at the problem shouldn’t we seek answers?

Tim Schefter

Loveland, Colo.

Your editors are much too forgiving of those in command of the McCain. The facts are seemingly self-evident that the accident was caused principally by failure of the McCain’s commander and subordinates to maintain adequate “watch” and control of their ship. YEP!

 

C.A. Erickson

Bonsall, Calif.

Originally posted 2017-08-31 15:35:13.

Current Events

“Thank You for Your Service”

6 Comments

Really? Do you truly mean those words, or are they something that makes you feel good about your lack of it? I have often wondered about that because it seems so common today like Good Morning or Good Afternoon. Here is an article that my favorite contributor Marine Greg Maresca, had published in the American Spectator. I think it is a fitting article for today as it’s Veterans Day, or for those who remember when it was Armistice Day. Enjoy, and if you are a Vet, think about Greg’s recommendation. I love it!

When I first stepped onto the college quad, I was just another young man, making his way, surveying the lay of the land. For me, however, there were a few personal firsts playing out in real time to which none of those aspiring collegians were privy.

For one, I was no longer getting a weekly haircut, nor was any razor getting acquainted with my face on a daily basis. I no longer used shower shoes, waited in line to eat out of a can, or pitched a tent to sleep in a bag. “The slide into civilian slime,” as Marine Corps GySgt. Cooley, a decorated Vietnam veteran, would lament, was well underway. Perhaps that is why Gunny assigned me to the Civilian Readjustment class — twice.

In one of my first collegiate classes, everyone took a turn at the professor’s lectern, and we were all instructed to introduce ourselves with a brief biography, explaining what brought us to university. As the class was dismissed, the professor asked to speak with me. In no uncertain terms he wanted me to know that, during the Vietnam years, protests on campus occurred, and veterans were not well received by some.

Growing up, I witnessed the domestic upheaval that was endured by these veterans, many of whom were the senior NCOs and field grade officers I served with. There was even a smattering of Korean War veterans among them. Sensing the opportunity to support and defend these men who mentored me, I did it without trepidation and with satisfaction.

This was before the days when the ubiquitous expression “Thank you for your service” became the new catchphrase echoing throughout our lexicon, especially around Veterans Day. For some, specifically those Korean and Vietnam veterans, the “thanks” and “welcome home” were much too long in coming. Whether or not these words bestowed upon them are sincere, the fact is that plenty never got a chance to hear such benign salutations.

Or is it just something we say, like “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Merry Christmas,” to fill an uncomfortable void that often comes across as disingenuous?

This seemingly quasi-support perhaps stems from the fact that most have never served, even though America had, until recently, been at war for nearly two decades. More than 2 million served in Iraq and Afghanistan following 9/11. That seems like a lot, but, categorically, they represent less than 1 percent of the U.S. population.

Americans’ experience of war today happens as they are surrounded by the comforts of home. That battle against evil and freedom-hating rogues is fought compliments of a computer video screen and mouse, where the terror, blood, and stench of death is nonexistent.

“Thank you for your service.”

Really?

If you truly mean what you say, how about making your gratitude count the next time you vote? For once, stop casting your ballot for Marxists who take their liberties for granted, while despising this country that I served, and you chose not to, a nation that seemingly does not exist today.

How about that — or are you offended?

Freedom’s steep and never-ending price tag is disproportionally paid, time and again, by veterans, and it always has been that way, even after 1973 when Congress put the draft to rest. If attempting to assuage your draft-deferment guilt with your yearly perfunctory “thank you for your service” makes you feel better — then have at it.

After all, it’s a free country, right?

There is one hero of the Iraq War, who had the humility and grace to respond in kind, who was nothing short of perfection. You won’t find this gentleman on Facebook or any other narcissistic social media outlet extolling his every move as some validation of purpose. He does not wear a hat, shirt, or jacket to distinguish who he is because his mere presence and the way he carries himself more than suffices.

While on patrol in Iraq, his face and hands were mutilated by an improvised explosive device. Maimed for life, he looked the person dead in the eye, saying, “The best way you can thank any of us for our service is to make America a nation worth dying for, again.”

Amen.

Greg Maresca is a longtime Sample News Group columnist and a Marine Corps veteran living in Flyover, Pennsylvania. 

Wow, was that powerful or what?That is a great response to those common words of “Thank you for your service” (because I didn’t). Thank you so much for this Greg!! And Semper Fi, Brother.