What military history????

[JOEMAMA]

I'm writing this letter as a 3rd generation Navy man. I follow my father and grand father as memebers of the Navy. I am a Viet Nam era vet. retired EOC. It really disturbs me how much history and traditions that went by the wayside while I served, and even more so how much more we have lost. I was part of the fine old Navy when you cfould have a beard, if kept within regs. You could make a decission with out worrying who might be upset about some thing stupid. I remember when you pinned on a chevron it was your "duty" to buy a keg of beer for your crew, God forbid that now you might "glorify alchohol". It was also the "duty" of your dare I say the word "shipmates" to help you pin it on! Chiefs went thru some great initiations even,all the while preserving traditions LOVINGLY passed down to the next generations of boots to cross the Quarter deck. But I think the oldest and most respected tradition the Navy always had, THAT is untill I think the first was the USS Ronald Regan was you had to be dead to have a ship named after you.And now more recently changing names of classes ie subs named after states and the likes. I know some traditions have to change because of he times but why can't they be just modified instead of just plain scuddled?? Shame on those bleeding heart maggots that want to change every thing, Shame on the big brass that bow to the pressures of the same. The Navy is supposed to be a proud and fierce FIGHTING machine not a social club with tricked out boats. I have always been proud of my 25 tears of service, but some times when I look at what the mostly civilian liberals want us to become it just makes me sick! If they all had thier way instead of Damn the torpedoes full steam ahead would read Darn those awfull projectiles lets proceed with extreme caution as not to upset any one in our path. I LOVE MY OLD NAVY! resp. Joseph A White EOC ret.

[MPLisa]

EO! Cool rating. Reminds of the movie "Fighting Seabees". We Build, We Fight! Indeed Chief, the times they are a changing. Old Chiefs like us will reminisce, and have contempt for what has happened to our fathers' Navy and our Navy.

[PAMICH]

[I]instead of Damn the torpedoes full steam ahead would read Darn those awfull projectiles lets proceed with extreme caution as not to upset any one in our path

This is very true about many aspects of our great Fleets. As Chiefs still on the deck plates, we are continuing to uphold Navy traditions as much as we can. And yes I have upset the apple cart once in a while banging my head with Regs. Some changes are on course and some should be depth charged. So we must instill Naval history in our young boots so they won't forget where we came from. We must teach what we always done to prepare for the changes and understand why we changed some. When I was growing up in the Navy my Chief would never let any junior Sailor buy the beer. I am keeping his tradition and it costs me some coin. I almost welcome that juniors buy the beer tradition back!