LETTERS
Battle Stars
Your article on the naming of the fourth Virginia-class nuclear-powered
attack submarine North Carolina on page 19 of your February issue
incorrectly stated that the battleship USS North Carolina (BB 55) earned
12 battle stars during World War II. That battleship--the most highly
decorated U.S. battleship of World War II--actually earned 15 battle
stars. To those of us who were there, every one of them counts! Those 15
battle stars were bought and paid for by the blood of American Sailors.
W.L. Deaton Jr.
Richardson, Texas
The Navy Replies
Mr. Deaton is correct. The battleship North Carolina is credited with the
12 stars listed in the Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, plus three
additional stars for the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, the New
Georgia Group Operation, and the Bismarck Archipelago Operation--for a
total of 15 engagement stars. The 1948 Awards Manual was later corrected
by former Director of Naval History Rear Adm. John D.H. Kane. The
Prospective Com-missioning Unit North Carolina will be informed of this
revision to ensure that current and future Navy publications correctly
reflect the battleship North Carolina's proud fighting history.
John Reilly
Naval Historical Center
Heavy-Lift Blues
It is interesting to note that the Aegis guided-missile destroyer USS Cole
was returned to the United States [March 2001 issue] by the heavy-lift
vessel Blue Marlin--a Panamanian-flag vessel. What has happened to our
U.S. Merchant Marine? Once again, we find ourselves dependent upon other
nations for our crucial sealift.
Capt. Raymond Conrady, USNR
No Balloons, Please
I wish to comment on the keel-laying article on page 20 of your February
issue. I cannot believe in this enlightened day and age that organizations
are still releasing balloons to celebrate an event. Balloon releases are
harming the wildlife of the world. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in
Brigantine, N.J., once rescued a beached sea turtle that appeared to be
suffocating. Upon examination of the creature's windpipe, a deflated and
very colorful balloon was found. The turtle thought it was food. After
removing the balloon, the good folks at the Center read the printing on
the balloon: It proclaimed the opening of a new car dealership in Des
Moines, Iowa! Let's put a ban on any celebratory balloon releases!
BUCS (SCW) David W. Schill, USNR
The hazards posed to wildlife by discarded synthetic
materials--balloons, fishing line, Styrofoam, plastic wrappings, etc.--are
well-documented. Your request for the Navy and U.S. shipbuilders to ban
the release of balloons at ship-christening and -commissioning ceremonies
has been forwarded to the Naval Sea Systems Command.
Preaching to the Choir?
The well-known Marine Corps credo "Every Marine a Rifleman!"
should be adapted by the Navy League to read: "Every Navy Leaguer an
Opinion Leader!"
The NLUS Sea Power Ambassadors Program has the potential to become a
dynamic, effective response to the concerns expressed by Adm. Dennis Blair
in the December 2000 issue on page 17 ("too much preaching to the
choir").
My hope is that this program will do more than just ask members to lend
"... your knowledge, experience, and just a few hours of your
time." (The quote is from the most recent Sea Power Ambassadors
Program flyer.)
The Sea Power Ambassadors Program can and should provide the horsepower,
instructional and motivational literature, videos, web sites, seminars,
organized campaigns, air time, direct initiatives and follow-ups from NLUS
national headquarters and local councils--in other words, "the
works!"
We Navy League members need a thorough working knowledge of just exactly
how Opinion Leadership works and how, as members and Sea Power
Ambassadors, we can apply such knowledge--using program tools, materials,
and techniques--to achieve the desired results. Many of us who would like
to help just don't know how!
Donald T.S. Cerling
Manistee, Mich.
Where's the Beef?
I cannot think of any publication that I enjoy and would not be without
more than Sea Power. However, it would seem that, like all other
naval-related publications, you overlook the most important mission in the
Navy--logistics!
How long or far can a fleet go without fuel, water, food, and all the
other things the auxiliary fleets supply?
I was stationed aboard the combat stores ship USNS Mars for three and
one-half years as a radarman (operations intelligence) from 1964 to 1968.
I can think of no ship that did more to support the fleet--both officially
and unofficially. Why are so-called auxiliary ships never noticed in
publications such as yours?
R.E. McQuaig Sr.
La Marque, Texas
We trust that this issue addresses your concern! Sea Power's annual
editorial calendar was revised last year to devote greater emphasis to
logistics and sealift.
The Editors
Note: The name of the author of the article "Returning Time to the
Sailor" in the April 2001 issue of Sea Power was misspelled. The
correct spelling is William D. Needham.
Beirut Memorial
On 23 October 1983, an explosion destroyed the building that housed a
large number of the Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
participating in a peace-enforcement mission near the Beirut International
Airport in Lebanon. To honor the 241 U.S. Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and
civilians who died in the terrorist attack--and those other Americans who
perished in their effort to restore peace to Beirut, the American Embassy
in Lebanon is constructing a permanent memorial on the grounds of the
Embassy compound.
The Embassy hopes to complete the memorial by summer 2001. Funding for
this project is to be provided by individual donors only. People wishing
to learn more about this worthy project should write to:
Donna Bordley
FMP, Room 7427
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
Donations should be mailed to the same address. Such contributions
qualify for the federal charitable contribution deduction in accordance
with 26 U.S. Code, Section 170 (c).
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