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Letters

CAMMIES MEANT TO PROTECT

I do not understand why the Marine Corps is crying foul about the digital desert cammies that the Navy recently unveiled [“2 new cammies coming soon,” Jan. 18]. These new uniforms were designed to make the sailor safer in a war zone. But the Marine Corps’ complaint is that it makes sailors look too much like Marines. On first glance, the side-by-side comparison done in the Navy Times makes the new Navy uniform look darker than its Marine Corps counterpart.

Even if the uniforms do look similar, so what? The idea is to make it safer for sailors to go to war. Many of those sailors are corpsmen. The Marine Corps willingly offers corpsmen the protection their uniforms give them when corpsmen are assigned to Marine units. So I fail to see why the Marine Corps is so against allowing corpsmen the same protection in a similar uniform just because that corpsman is not assigned to the Marines.

To me, that says “blue-side” corpsmen are not worth protecting — that their shipmates are not worth protecting. This disappoints me.

Many of my fellow sailors are volunteering to go to U.S. Central Command to fill billets the Army and Marine Corps cannot fill. They deserve the most protection they can get to improve their chances of coming home safely.

HM1 (SW/AW) Charles O’Dell

San Diego

BIPOLAR LINKS TO SUICIDE

After 26 years as a chaplain, I am convinced that many suicides and suicidal ideation can be directly linked to bipolar disorder [“‘This is a very complex problem,’” Jan. 25].

Any suicide prevention program that the Navy/Marine Corps develops and implements should take this disease into account if it hopes to see the numbers decrease [“Suicide rate rises in ’09,” Jan. 25].

Acknowledging bipolar disorder as a contributory factor to suicide could, however, have a direct impact on recruiting and retention as it would either disqualify many applicants or require a change in policy for allowance of specific medications. Tough choices, but the result would probably be a positive impact on suicide statistics.

Capt. James Fisher

Parris Island, S.C.

MOM SHOULD MOVE SON

It is not rocket science to solve Denise Anderson’s dilemma on how to get Congress to allow her to be buried with her son who is buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery [“Mom fights to be buried with soldier son,” OFFduty, Jan. 18].

Instead of wasting all of her energy and the time of congressional leaders to change the law, I would highly recommend that she move her son’s remains to a private cemetery. Then she could, of course, be buried with him — not a hard problem to solve. This way, she does not have to die first to receive a waiver under present Veterans Affairs Department policy, and she may live the rest of her life in peace.

Cmdr. James Rauth (ret.)

Frederick, Md.

DUBIOUS CAR-BUYING TIPS

I just finished reading Eric Peters’ Jan. 11 article, “The keys to picking your next ride,” and about fell out of my chair after reading his first recommendation of filling up a car to calculate the actual gas mileage.

There are so many professionals who already test-drive cars and report this information that it is not worth the effort or cost to follow his advice.

He also failed to mention that many used car dealers prey on young service members. I have witnessed multiple sailors fall victim to salesmen at corner car lots just outside the gates of a large base. He missed the boat on that aspect of buying a new car.

As for his advice to separate the buying process to price, trade in, rebates and finance, it’s spot on.

Lt. Richard Lebel

Monterey, Calif.

GI BILL GIVES BOOST

As a recipient of the Montgomery GI Bill from 1993 to 1997, I know it set me up for the success I enjoy today.

The Montgomery GI Bill put me light years ahead financially, as compared with the majority of my college friends. Veterans today with the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be even further ahead.

But, with the financial advantage it gave me, I didn’t take it for granted. As a single E-4 and 21 years old, making $805 month after taxes at Fort Polk, La., in 1992 when I separated, I was saving money frantically. I ask the question, what are my fellow veterans doing with their money? Separating from the military takes a plan; college financing takes a plan; life takes a plan.

Army Maj. Preston Hayward

St. Paul, Minn.

NAME SHOULD SHOW CORPS

I read your article on the renaming of my beloved Marine Corps so that it can begin to receive the long overdue recognition it deserves [“The great name debate,” Jan. 18]. Hats off to [North Carolina] Rep. Walter B. Jones for leading this effort. The fact that the Marine Corps is in the Navy Department is overlooked by civilians and flaunted by some service members. The tactical missions for these services are separate and therefore should be treated as such.

Since the birth of the Corps in 1775, Marines have led the charge in every foreign war that this country faced.

To those who fought long and hard, and for my fellow service members still fighting, we must have this measure placed into law.

Marine Sgt. K. E. Stewart

Kansas City, Mo.

‘BEST BOOKS’ LIST FLAWED

I have absolutely no idea how “Lone Survivor” by former [Special Warfare Operator 1st Class] SEAL Marcus Luttrell did not make it into your article, “The best military books of the decade” [OFFduty, Jan. 18].

I disagree with J. Ford Huffman’s opinions of “Jarhead” by Anthony Swofford. I have a lot of issues with Swofford’s book and think very little of him after reading it. The movie was even worse. “Lone Survivor,” on the other hand, is a well-written, easy-to-read and humble account of a harrowing combat experience.

Swofford comes off as an embellisher and whiner, while Luttrell comes across as a man with deep-rooted values who was moved by the men he served with and seems supremely aware of the luck and fortune that kept him alive.

I hope that omitting “Lone Survivor” from the list was just an oversight by Huffman. I believe it belongs at the top of the list.

Former Marine Sgt. Sam Balla

Columbus, Ohio