The article about Sgt. James E. Wright (December issue) brought home a proud military feeling. I was commander of a VFW Post in Pleasanton, Calif., and made monthly visits to the VA Hospital in Livermore, about 20 miles away.

I spoke to many similar amputees that had the many attitudes he described in his “Own Words.” Those “speed bumps” he described were there also. However, their morale was damaged by the lack of civilian support on their return, which carried over with them the rest of their lives. One of the more difficult problems we had as a VFW Post was to get them back on track and to be proud of their sacrifices. Slowly but surely, most came around.

However, in Sgt. Wright’s case, the attitude he maintains is superior and should be an example for others to follow. His leadership would be best used at Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] in support of those who follow his footsteps. It reminds me of [the] famous remark, “Where do we find such men?”

Richard Daniels, USN (Ret.)
Received via e-mail

Cross-Training The Officer Corps

The December 2005 issue had several articles that had a similar thread running through them, namely, how to cross-train the enlisted men in order to achieve maximum utilization with fewer numbers. I suggest that there should be the same thought and effort made toward creating an officer corps that would emulate that same capability of a cross-trained crew.

With few exceptions — Judge Advocate General, Supply, Civil Engineer Corps, etc. — officers are not trained (and thus not capable) to operate as division officers onboard ship. As the Navy manpower costs continue to increase, it would seem logical that end-strength numbers reflect an officer corps that is not fractionated into the specialty groups that must have their representation in any fleet command.

Vincent S. Averna, USN (Ret.)
McLean, Va.

Counterpoint to Taiwan Turnabout

I am amazed that you wasted the space to publish the letter (“Underlying Reasons for Taiwan Turnabout,” December issue). The writer either has [little] historical and geopolitical sophistication, or is a propagandist for the People’s Republic of China.

[The letter states] no one “should worry about China’s military buildup” because “China will never use force” unless Taiwan declares independence. Lost is China’s gunboat intimidation in the South China Sea, its launch of missiles over Taiwan, its attempted force-down of a U.S. reconnaissance plane and so on.

China’s hosting of the six-country meetings on North Korea is described as taking “action” to achieve peace. China continues to feed and provide fuel for North Korea, and returns refugees. The actions strengthen and encourage the North Korean regime. China agreed to host the talks only after a decade of badgering by the United States and Japan to attempt to encourage civilized behavior on the part of a barbaric regime.

Hong Kong is cited as a system that “works well” and, therefore, is an example that should encourage Taiwan to give up its “Special Budget.” China has violated the agreements it entered into with the U.K., and refuses (despite demonstrations by millions) to permit the democratic reforms it accepted in exchange for control over Hong Kong. If trampling on the rights of citizens and violating international agreements is “working well,” then Taiwan should certainly be comforted.

China is no more or less trustworthy than other nations. The writer ignores the sum of human history by advocating unilateral disarmament in the face of an obviously aggressive posture.

Jerry Riddle
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Flag Signal Clarification

Ed McTrain wrote [in his December letter], “At Trafalgar, Nelson introduced flag signals.” No way.

According to John Hard’s definitive Royal Navy Language (1991): “Flag signals have been in use in the Royal Navy since the 16th century. They were first used in the First Dutch War [1652-1654] with only five flags. … It was not until the late 18th century that a detailed flag code was introduced with 50 flags conveying some 350 instructions.”

Indeed, Nelson himself put a telescope to his blind eye at Copenhagen in 1801 so that he could not read the signal flags from Adm. Sir Hyde Parker’s flagship. That was four years before Trafalgar.

Norman Polmar
Received via e-mail
(Polmar is an analyst, author and historian specializing on naval issues)

‘Jury Rig’ Ingenuity

I enjoyed the November “Historical Perspective” by Dr. David F. Winkler about using the USS Lexington’s generators to supply electrical power to the city of Tacoma, Wash., in 1929. It never ceases to amaze me, and gives me great pride when the Navy puts its “jury rig” ingenuity to work and finds a way to use something in a way no one else considered. It takes lots of brilliant people to design and build the tools and systems we use in the Navy. But, equally as brilliant, are those alternative uses and the sailors who come up with them.

Dan Force, USN (Ret.)
Portsmouth, R.I.