LETTERS

Sea Power, Nov 2004

Meaningful Medals

On the [September] cover with Adm. Edmund Giambastiani and on page 43 with Rear Adm. Kathleen Paige, it is a pleasure to see military persons without fruit salad going over their shoulders. Especially admirals. Everybody can't be an Audie Murphy.

In pictures of World War II admirals, they usually had on two or three rows of ribbons. I hope the medals get back to where they are meaningful. My two good conduct medals mean a lot to me.

Pete Gannon

Chief machinist's mate, USN (Ret.)

Received via e-mail

Commissioning Clarification

Enjoyed the article in October Sea 'Power about ship commissionings, but must correct one statement in it. At the end you stated that the Charleston, S.C., Council is supporting the commissioning of the James E. Williams in December. The Charleston Council is not supporting this commissioning. It was offered the opportunity to support it and declined.

Although many of us on the Commissioning Committee are members of Navy League and the Charleston Council, and would have done the same job we are doing now had they agreed, it is being sponsored and supported by the USS Yorktown Association. The Charleston Council missed a great opportunity and should not claim any credit for this ship commissioning.

Robert H. Knight

Cmdr., USN (Ret.)

Charleston Council/Treasurer of the Commissioning Committee

Received via e-mail

Reconstruction Coverage

Your [President's] Message in the September Sea Power was outstanding. It is so sad that real help and reconstruction efforts don't get media coverage like bombing and killing. Keep up the good work!

Hal Pierce

Capt., USNR (Ret.)

Mobile, Ala.