THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410210013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
I am a retired Navy chief petty officer, and I want to point out an error in Oliver North's statement, ``Bill Clinton is not my commander in chief.'' Since Mr. North is a retired Marine Corps officer, he is considered to be in the military for the rest of his life as he carries a military identification card and collects a monthly check from the Department of Defense. He also has full privileges at base exchanges, commissaries and medical facilities.
This makes President Clinton, or any other elected president, ``his'' commander in chief, and that position is to be honored by all military, active-duty and retired.
You might not like that individual as a person, but when you enter the service you were sworn to uphold the laws of the United States and lawful orders of your superiors. You don't have to like the person, but you must respect his position and authority.
Mr. North has again blatantly dishonored his commitment to his country and his oath as a Marine Corps officer and will continue to do so in his political endeavors.
GLENN V. HOWELL
Norfolk, Oct. 14, 1994
Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, USMC (ret.) is no longer taking orders because he isn't in the military anymore.
Surely, then, he has resigned his commission and forfeited his retirement pay. (All retirees with pay are subject to recall.)
E. A. DELANEY
Virginia Beach, Oct. 11, 1994 by CNB