Voicing Approval

We were delighted with your article “The Voice of MOAA” [July 2003]. It gave due recognition to the member service representatives (MSRs). 

Early on my husband ran into a snag with the TRICARE For Life program in regard to billing cardiac rehab. MSR Darcie Galbreath worked with me for months to clarify a definition to our great satisfaction.

When I saw the photo of a sparkly Ms. Galbreath, I knew in a second it was a match for a voice I’d reached so many times. It has been a pleasure to recommend the MSRs many times.

Well done, MOAA!

Shirley E. Opitz
Monroeville, Pa.

Point of Contention 

One does wonder which military, and what time frame, both Col. Norman G. Ewers, USMC-Ret., and Maj. Dee C. Christensen, USA-Ret. (“Your Views,” July 2003), served. Surely it could not be within the last 30 (or so) years. Equating “luminaries” such as Ramsey Clark, ... Jimmy Carter, Gore Vidal, and Norman Mailer with reasoned, philosophical argument is completely pointless, futile, and parenthetically senseless. None of them has the slightest idea of American interests and hegemony, and [they] contribute nothing to rational and logical debate but unreasoned, anti-United States rant. They each have their own agenda, none of which involves the security, safety, or protection of this country.

It is continually astonishing to read how some completely and painfully ignore recent history: Are we to, therefore, ignore the terrorist threat and blithely continue on our merry way, dispensing goodness and largesse? Apparently Messrs. Ewers and Christensen, et alia, would have us believe the blatherings of the vocal liberal left here and abroad and ignore reality.

I for one—and, obviously, a great majority of my fellow Americans—am heartily thankful we have a president and cabinet who do seek our security and safety. Is any human endeavor perfect, besides “armchair quarterbacking”?

CWO4 James Fazekas, USA-Ret.
via e-mail

It is refreshing, encouraging, and alarming to read the letters from Colonel Ewers and Major Christensen.

Refreshing and encouraging to know that other dedicated, patriotic retired service personnel share my growing concern about the alarming foreign “policy” the Bush-Cheney duo has foisted on the American people.

As all retired service personnel, I respect and revere the office of the president of the United States. That does not mean blind adherence to [Bush and Cheney’s] personal foreign policy agenda, or lack thereof, which grows more ominous each day.

I could not agree more with Colonel Ewers. ... As an intelligent, thoughtful publication, [Military Officer] would be well served to offer a forum to people such as former President Carter and other respected individuals who share our anxiety.

There should be dialogue as to why a number of us are deeply concerned about the direction (or more specifically, lack of direction), objective, and plan emanating from the current occupants of the offices of the president and vice president in regard to our “foreign policy.”

Col. William O. Vogel, USAF-Ret.
Danville, Calif.

It’s always a disappointment to read such obviously negative and far-left political opinions as those of Colonel Ewers and Major Christensen concerning the single most vital national security issue of our time.

One would think military officers who have given much of their life to serving this country would be able to remember one critical, controlling event—Sept. 11, 2001—and recognize that we are at war, which will probably continue for some years. 

Fortunately, it is recognized by most in this country that we are no longer fighting World War II or the Vietnam War. If we are to prevail, we must be proactive and fight in a manner that will assure victory. When this requires a “first strike” methodology, then so be it.

Of course, anyone who advocates the views of Ramsey Clark, an individual associated with every extreme left-wing organization on this planet, may be unable to recognize the achievements of President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, and their team. So far, I give them an A for performance.

There is currently a very popular country-western song [that asks] “do you remember?” that reminds us of the Sept. 11 toll in American lives, national honor, and significant infrastructure. I remember, but I do wonder about some.

Lt. Col. R.C. Thomas, USAF-Ret.
Florissant, Colo.

The NPRC Explains

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) stores and services the records of most discharged, deceased, and retired members of all branches of the U.S. armed forces. The NPRC is not a Department of Defense facility, however, and has no authority to either add or remove documents from the records being held. [In “Your Views,” June 2003] Lt. Col. Cal Taylor, USAF-Ret., stated that “there was no documentation of the last 12 years of [his] 26-year military career.” There are several explanations possible for this. 

Copies of documents can be provided to a requester only if those documents were included in the record retired to the NPRC by the military service department. Depending on the year Taylor retired, certain documents were not retained in paper form while he was on active duty. Some were stored in an electronic format using the Air Force Records Management System. When [the record was sent] to the NPRC for storage, these electronic documents should have been converted to fiche and retired with any paper records available. If this conversion did not take place, these documents would be missing from the record retired to the NPRC. 

Of course, another explanation is that the entire record was available, but NPRC did not convert fiche records back to paper to meet the needs of Taylor’s request. Because the NPRC processes more than a million requests for records a year, it is important to be specific when making a request so that it is understood what is required and to provide feedback if your needs were not met. The goals here are to give a rapid, accurate, and complete response to every request.

Charles Pellegrini
Chief, Management Systems Staff National Personnel Records Center
via e-mail

Team Coast Guard

As a retired Air Force officer and now a five-year plus member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, I found [“Beyond the Waterfront,” July 2003] very interesting. I have been very impressed by the support given our flotilla (an aviation unit in Houston) by [the air station] from the skipper down. They really treat us as part of “Team Coast Guard” in every way. …

... Because in today’s world [the auxiliary flies] many hours per week, ... the savings to the public are tremendous thanks to a dedicated band of people from all walks of life (including many retired officers of other services). 

I would encourage many of my fellow retirees who may have said, as I did on Sept. 11, “I wish I was still young enough to help”—you can. I am 64 years old and I appreciate the opportunity the Coast Guard offers to continue my service to my country. We are a team, and there is room for you in the air or on the surface.

Maj. David Rex, USAF-Ret.
via e-mail