
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 7, 1990                   TAG: 9006080719
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PAPER SHOULD HEW TO OWN PREACHMENTS

AS A FORMER crew member of the USS Iowa during World War II, I could not help but notice your May 26 editorial, "The Navy reopens its investigation."

You accuse the Navy of "sloppy and suspect" procedures regarding the investigation of the recent tragedy aborad the Iowa. I say you and others of your profession have done what you could to publish or air unfounded opinion, untruths and hearsay in order to sell your product.

You accuse the Navy of not doing its homework regarding its investigation. I say, as so-called responsible journalist, you failed to do your homework.

You somehow group together a "sloppy investigation" with the training and readiness of our crew and ship to protect the nation's shores. I say the investigation never criticized the training of the crew or its material condition. You conclude and imply that the ship's captain, Fred P. Moosally, was "pressured into early retirement" because of this tragedy. I say nonsense!

Your editorial is a bunch of scuttlebutt. I advise you to know your facts and sources before you publish unfounded hearsay and untruths - the same standard you hold the U.S. Navy to. A.L. CHOCKLETT JR. ROANOKE

by CNB