Overburdened Troops

Thank you for the excellent and highly relevant column, “Sharing the Burden” [“From the President,” August 2005]. [Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.,] said what many of us believe but few have had the courage to set in print. For too many years our great nation has pursued a worldwide military action role with understrength and vastly overstretched forces.

Maj. David H. Grafft, USMCR-Ret.
Elk Grove, Calif.

Memories of Iwo Jima

[“Remembering Iwo Jima,” August 2005] brought back vivid memories recalling the Marines I knew who gave their all.

Lt. Harold Schrier’s men raised the colors on Mount Suribachi. He and I were tent-mates in boot camp in December 1936. I ended up in the 27th Marines and he in the 28th. Also, [I remember] losing a great Marine from our 2nd Battalion, Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, a Medal of Honor recipient who could have stayed stateside selling bonds. He chose to continue to fight. [There were] many others, but they will continue to stay in my memories.

Maj. Walt Bandyk, USMC-Ret.
via e-mail

When Americans first became aware of Iwo Jima in World War II, I was [an Army] corporal an ocean away, but my civilian fiancée (now my wife for more than 59 years) had an infinitesimally small part of the responsibility for the success of the invasion.

Mildred was … working for a civilian contractor making special maps for the War Department. Her prime project was making the prototype map of an island on a thin sheet of rubber, some 18" square, molded in three dimensions to show topographic details. It could be rolled up into a ball and stuffed anywhere and then regain its shape when needed; others were made in two dimensions on thin silk sheeting. She developed the substrate that allowed fine details to be printed on those two media, which then would withstand rough handling and exposure to seawater.

Although Mildred knew the surface details of that island better than the back of her own hand, she knew neither its name nor location, undoubtedly highly classified information. After the invasion of Iwo Jima, she read a report of that action in the New York Times that included a map and rushed excitedly to her mother exclaiming: “That’s my island!”

After reading your article, she reminisced … that one of the invaders among the … returnees on your trip might actually have used one of those maps, possibly still having it as a memento of that epic occasion.

Lt. Cmdr. Mark Sigismund, USNR-Ret.
via e-mail

First Class Editorial

[“Still Fighting,” September 2005, is] the best editorial written in Military Officer in quite some time. Admiral Ryan spelled out in about five comments made by [military leaders] that military retirees are just that: retirees. How can those people properly respond to young active duty personnel as they will eventually approach retirement age?

I am led to believe that I am nothing more than a second-class citizen, in the way, [and serving] no purpose in life after giving Uncle Sam 28 years of my life. The admiral put it on the line, and I appreciate his comments. We must depend on MOAA, as the system will destroy us if we don’t.

Lt. Col. Morris D. Reed, USAF-Ret.
via e-mail

Mixed Messages

The three “Washington Scene” articles (August 2005) were most disheartening: TRICARE reimbursement rate reductions will hurt military personnel, the VA “health budget shortfall” is a disgrace, and the Pentagon “mulling options to increase beneficiary charges” betrays its own constituency.
 
While the vast majority of U.S. citizens and both political parties claim they love our country and support our troops, we have constant efforts by those in power to take benefits away. Are military personnel a target in the “starve the beast” philosophy (while some other groups benefit from the generosity of the “beast”)? Is there a covert effort to destroy our military? How is it that, especially in wartime, we’ve come to this?

Regrettably, it sounds like the answers coming forth are leading us in the wrong direction. And worse, the words I hear from Washington don’t match the policies that get implemented. So I’m not sure whom to believe.

Thanks to MOAA for staying with the battle for truth and justice for our military, for keeping us informed, and for offering opportunities for us to get involved. You do great work, and it is appreciated.

Maj. David Lee Smith, USA-Ret.
Grandville, Mich.

Brain Power

“Brain Power” in the August 2005 issue of Military Officer was interesting and informative. I might add the philosophy that I try to keep in mind: If you forget where you put your umbrella, no problem. If you forget what an umbrella is for, big problem.

Maj. Tom Dunlap, USMC-Ret.
via e-mail

If It’s Not One Thing ...

[On the cover of the August 2005 issue] I believe it is not a U.S. Marine looking at the photograph, but a U.S. Navy corpsman. ... The military seal visible on the ID card in the wallet is a Department of the Navy seal, [not] a Marine Corps seal.

Maj. Mike Brown, USMC-Ret.
via e-mail

Of all the thousands of reservists and guardmembers activated over the last few years, you had to publish a picture of a soldier with a goatee [“A Little Help,” “Rapid Fire,” August 2005]! That clearly violates just about every uniform regulation around. While I appreciate Staff Sgt. Ralph Rohner’s service, his appearance does a disservice not only to himself but to the military as well. ... And Military Officer magazine should do a better job of picture selection.

Col. John E. Kosobucki, USA-Ret.
Tomah, Wis.

Editor’s note: MOAA received many letters on this topic and has instituted new editorial procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

[The “Forgotten Sub” (“Pages of History,” August 2005)] was not discovered “on the seabed of New London, Conn.,” as reported. It was found off the Isle of Shoals, Portsmouth, N.H., where it sank while making its test depth dive after the boat was recommissioned.

Lt. Cmdr. John Surprenant, USN-Ret.
via e-mail

Correction: In “Sounding Taps,” page 118 of the September issue, Lt. Col. Leslie S. Thompson, USAF-Ret., incorrectly was listed as a deceased member. We are pleased to note the lieutenant colonel still lives, though we deeply regret our error.