THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 5, 1997 TAG: 9701030012
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 28 lines
In a Dec. 28 letter to the editor, a woman complains her husband's ship isn't getting recognition for deployment - only the carriers are newsworthy. The fact is, none of the ships or squadrons should be identified on TV, radio or in newspapers.
In WWII it was forbidden - the slogan was ``Loose Lips Sink Ships.'' I think the slogan should still be in effect. The U.S. has several enemies that shouldn't be furnished with up-to-date sailing information. There was no such thing as ``ombudsmen'' in WWII - only the families of admirals, COs and execs were allowed on the pier, and the rest of us peons accepted it as no big deal.
I left Pier 7 on what was supposed to be a two-week shakedown, but we continued on through the Canal and I didn't get back to the States for a couple of years. I left my car in authorized storage on Pier 7. I never saw my car again but was notified the car had been taken off base to civilian storage. The garage later notified me the storage bill had reached the price of the car - that an auction was to be held and I would be permitted to bid. However, I was about 10,000 miles from Norfolk at the time. If such a thing happened in today's Navy, I'm sure a lawsuit would be in order.
So stop complaining. It all counts on ``20.''
FRED C. McKAIG
Virginia Beach, Dec. 28, 1996