AirMail

I'm very proud of Senior Airman Curtis Towne, who was in the Navy EP-3 in China ["Bluesuiter Recalls Chinese Captivity,' June '01]. This situation only serves to demonstrate the quality of people we have in the Air Force. I'm sure that if we keep that quality of people in the military, we U.S. citizens can sleep and live in peace for many years to come. retired Staff Sgt. Talmadge Pat Cerezo

Canada

Retiree care

Assistance throughout the world to under privileged nations is commendable [Final Frame," June '011. However, it continues to baffle me how our government can do this yet will not take care of our military retirees. How can our services to our nation continue to result in ever shrinking medical benefits, which were promised during our active duty careers?

TRICARE is a farce unless it really stands for what it is, The retiree is the Tri of TRICARE. The first Tri is the annual deductible before any benefits are paid. Number two Tri is the co-payment made by the retiree above and beyond the annual deduction. Number three Tri is the supplemental insurance the retiree is forced to procure at the retiree's expense. As an insult to injury, CHAMPUS only allows about $17 for a doctor visit.

Again I applaud those military people for their contributions, but I would highly recommend they become intimately familiar with the medical benefits before investing their lives expecting medical benefits after retirement. I wouldn't recommend a career in the military to anyone after what I have witnessed.

retired Senior Master Sgt. Larry R. Norris

via e-mail

Respect the national anthem

At this year's Indianapolis 500 opening ceremonies, Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith, sang the national anthem. What he did was inexcusable and a total disgrace.

First, he did not sing the national anthem; he screamed it. There was no show of talent.

Second, he messed up the words quite a few times. There is no excuse for making mistakes when singing the national anthem.

Third, he ended the song with: "... And the home of the [long pause] Indianapolis 500." Though he may have found this funny, I found it completely disrespectful to our country, our veterans and those who gave their lives in defense of our nation.

It's an honor and privilege to sing the national anthem and to sing it in a proper manner. If performers, for whatever reason, can't, or won't, sing the national anthem with the respect and dignity it deserves, then they should step down and let someone who will sing it.

Master Sgt. Charles H. Elford Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Rave reviews

In reading "Stemming The Tide" [June '01], you have earned more respect from me. I, too have been a part of the electronic music scene for years. t spin records at venues around the Eglin/Hurlburt area. The typical instinct of the public is to stereotype people who attend raves. I have seen my fair share of partiers under the influence, but know better than to do it myself. The thing that's important is that the "rave" scene is not about drugs. It's not what many call a safe haven for users. At every event I have layed or attended there is strict security and refusal of admission if you even look suspicious.

Airmen who have been caught lately have no one and nothing to blame but themselves. Being the DJ, I never put that pill in their mouths, A lot of us do it [the rave] for the music we love, not the drugs. You can find just as many, if not more, people under the influence at a rock con- cert. I would be less looked at if I set up a drum and guitar next to my turntables.

Senior Airman P.J. Grakauskas Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Very timely article. The night life is part of the culture to a large degree here, It's a pity Airman 1st Class Nelson Arias doesn't realize that in a sense, he is part of the problem. Rock music and drugs have gone together since the beginning. This is a well documented fact. He's doing the moral equivalent of swimming with the sharks. Sooner or later it's bound to affect you. Why take the risk!

Master Sgt. John Wolf Keflavik, Iceland

Deputies' spouses

Make no mistake -- it was a very good article ["Deputy Airmen, "June '01]. I understand the approach. It's just frustrating because I know that raising kids all day is a very difficult job, only made more difficult when these deputies run off to be away from home again. It's, almost like the spouses never get a break.

Staff Sgt. Brian D. Meeker Balling Air Farce Base, D.C.

Check the gun

In the June '01 edition of Airman magazine, "Deputy Airmen," has text that reads: "His 9 mm Glock pistol: clean and lubed with the safety off." The Glock has no external safety to switch on or off. The safety mechanism is internal to the trigger mechanism and firing pin. The safety is always on until you pull the trigger.

Lt Col. Tom Duquette

Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

'BUFF' and Tough

I would like to congratulate you on the outstanding article on the buff! [" 'BUFF.' and Tough," June' 01]. Boeing has built the best heavy jets ever produced. Look at the service life of the B-52 and KC-135, the unsung heroes of the Cold War, and everything in between.