THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030010
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Your reports (news, Jan. 21-22) regarding the Navy's decision to ``retire'' four battleships were very interesting.
I was the executive officer of the Iowa in 1951-1952 when it was recommissioned. All four Iowa-Class battleships, Iowa, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Missouri, performed outstanding services, bombarding shore defenses and installations contributing to the ultimate defeat of North Korean communist expansion in Asia.
Your articles did not mention these Korean War services of these ships which carried the 7th Fleet commanders during those years. They should have.
Everyone who served in those ships was very proud of them. It is with regret that we learn that they will be ``retired'' with us ``old retirees'' from our fleets. The statement that we cannot afford the $100,000 per ship to keep them in mothballs is regrettable in view of the billions currently wasted in other national programs that do nothing to protect our country!
I applaud the decision to offer the ships as local monuments since they did their duties so magnificently in the defense of our country.
CHARLES R. STEPHAN
Captain, U.S. Navy (ret.)
Virginia Beach, Jan. 23, 1995 by CNB