THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 1, 1995 TAG: 9504280037
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
To say that the column by Suzanne Fields (``Could male-female Navy fight?'' April 17) angered me would be an understatement. I was totally incensed and offended by the supercilious, demeaning and patronizing tone of the article. Ms. Fields, along with many others, would have the general public believe that stationing women aboard Navy ships is a new concept that appears to be failing miserably. Not so.
Women have served well aboard Navy ships for years. To suggest that the irresponsible acts of a few individuals aboard the Eisenhower could jeopardize the ability of the rest of the crew to perform its mission is a tremendous insult to 4,950 or so remaining crewmembers who did not behave in such an irresponsible manner.
As an enlisted male, with 18 years of service in the Navy, I can say with no reservations that the overwhelming majority of women and men that I have worked with, at a wide variety of commands, have been professionals. I know two of the women aboard the Eisenhower, having served with them in the past. They have my complete trust.
To judge by the actions of the irresponsible minority is a gross miscarriage of justice. Ms. Fields should come visit us and meet the people face-to-face whom she has judged from afar; spend some time checking out our world firsthand, not through an article in a magazine.
Also, to the ``unnamed'' officer she quoted: Perhaps if he is so uncomfortable with the situation, it is time for him to go. In this era of downsizing, I'm sure he won't be missed much, and his obvious lack of faith in those of us who do care will no longer be a hindrance to the accomplishment of the mission.
JOHN W. DEVER III
Norfolk, April 20, 1995 by CNB