Five readers penned letters to the editor for the May 4 issue of Navy Times. Have thoughts you’d like to share on Navy Times stories or letters? Send them to navylet@navytimes.com. Include your name, address, phone number and rank. Submissions may be published in print and online.
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TRADITIONS DISAPPEARING
A few decades ago, the poem that follows was printed in the USS America’s (CV66) newspaper. I have always loved it. I am also saddened by the loss of tradition. In some ways it was doomed to die. They just do not teach tradition to anyone until chief’s initiation, and then it is too late.
So, from an unknown author, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Oct. 27, 1940, I’m sharing for all who came before and all who followed me:
Sailor’s Swill
The Old Salt spat at a passing rat, and borrowed a match from me,
Then scratched a match where his pants were tight, and spake quite fervently;
“I’ll swear by gum, that it strikes me dumb – this kind of dang navee.
With not a sail, nor even a brail, and dog watches drinking tea.
‘Twas some years back that I took a crack at serving Uncle Sam;
An’ ‘taint the same — except maybe the name — as ’twere in them days, by damn!
We went aloft if the Old Man coughed, or if it began to blow;
And got a root from a gov-ment boot if maybe we went too slow.
A trick at the wheel took an arm o’ steel, and lots of plain beef y’see.
But now it’s did by a high school kid, and patent ‘lectricitee.
We got our rum an’ slap o’ slum almost every day or so,
An’ mouldy bits of ship’s biskits if stores was running low.
Today I seed how these youngsters feed — the mess what they get each day,
An’ strike me pink if I don’t think I’d bin in a swell cafay.
It used to be that a man at sea was a sailor. It makes me bile
To see the way they cruise today with radiums, gas an’ ile.
An’ not content to remain where meant — on top — where a ship should sail,
They go and man a sheet-iron can an’ dive like a blasted whale.”
The Old Salt spat, donned his hat, give a hitch to those pants of his.
He’d said his say — so he creaked away, all itches and rheumatiz.
For sailor-man, since the flood began, and Noah put to sea,
He raised his plaint — “Ah, the Navy ain’t what the Navy used to be!”
Former AT1 Ward Zimmerman
Colonial Beach, Va.
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Our Navy is but a shadow of its former tradition-honoring self.
Political correctness and focus on self-preservation instead of our sailors has made us pathetic parasites.
Where once I saw adults taking responsibility I see insecure chameleons seeking to avoid standing out for fear of “negative attention.”
Far too few truly embrace the honor of serving but rather see it as a job — and only a job.
Senior leadership has failed us, but most importantly we have failed ourselves by not holding true to our core values.
Honor. Courage. Commitment.
How few remain who truly embrace these values and their meaning, borne from our traditions.
Cmdr. Nathan Lacy (ret.)
Sacramento, Calif.
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GOING IN WRONG DIRECTION
The letter in the April 20 issue by retired Air Force Col. Bill Malec [“Navy failed chaplain”] nailed the issue involving the chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Wes Modder, beautifully!
I suspect that many of us in the retired community — and no doubt the “Highest Authority,” whose book of rules hasn’t changed — would agree that “Defense Department and Navy policies changed over the years,” turning the Navy into a “kinder, gentler, more politically correct service.” I would add, in regard to “tolerance, diversity and pluralism,” my opinion that the change is in the wrong direction for good order and discipline.
Rear Adm. Bruce Newell (ret.)
New Holland, Pa.
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Two issues prompt me to write, uniform changes and traditions.
The trend toward making uniform changes every few years would be more effective if the review board consisted of the individuals who were going to wear them. Recent disasters have included uniforms that are not fire retardant and camo uniforms. Why does the Navy need camo uniforms? From seaman apprentice through master chief and chief warrant officer, I wore every uniform with pride.
With regard to tradition, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens should realize that in his position he should be providing leadership and presenting the needs and problems of the enlisted personal to the CNO. His take on tradition is wrong!
When I qualified in submarines, I drank my dolphins in a glass of beer. When I made third class petty officer, I had my crow tacked on. When I crossed the equator, I kissed the royal baby’s belly, was hosed down and walked the plank. When I made E-7, I was at Collins Radio Corp., undergoing training. I drove to Long Beach, purchased my uniform, and contacted the chief’s mess to attend my initiation. When I was promoted to CWO, I presented the first person to salute me with a silver dollar. These are traditions, and I would not have missed any of them.
My father once told me “The position (rank) demands respect, the person earns it!” MCPON Stevens has yet to earn mine.
RMCM (SS) Edgar Hanemann (ret.)
Colorado Springs, Colo.
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LIBERTY BAN KILLS MORALE
Regarding “No libo during Balikatan” [SitRep briefs, April 20].
Why stop with this exercise? The Defense Department needs to bar all military personnel from such places anywhere in the world, since our goal is zero crime. For that matter why let the troops off base or the ship at all? That will really help morale, enlistments and retention.
No wonder military morale is so low. You have 18- to 25-year-olds often working seven days a week for months at a time, and while doing so no sex or alcohol is allowed on ships or in combat areas. Even religion has become taboo.
When you have liberty during a port call, at least in the Philippines, all you can do is go out to eat and sleep and shower at a hotel. All this while working for about minimum wage, when you figure the 70-plus hour work weeks. I see the draft looming on the horizon, which will destroy whatever esprit de corps the military has left.
This is our new politically correct military, which expects perfection from everyone. Any sane person knows that will never occur. It is the direct result of commanding officers justifiably being afraid that if a service member commits a crime, they will be relieved of command for having failed to prevent it.
Maybe there should be a standard like that for all mayors and governors regarding their constituents’ behavior. Sounds crazy, but I fail to see the difference. Convicted felons on parole have more freedom than our troops.
Navy Cmdr. Wayne L. Johnson (ret.)
Alexandria, Va.
