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Letters

Allow female submariners

I have had the opportunity to serve with female warriors in Iraq and onboard surface combatants. It is time to look at allowing female sailors to serve on submarines.

Female sailors are comprised of the same grit and warrior spirit as any male sailor I have worked with. While I served with female sailors, soldiers and airmen in Iraq, we were professional, cooperative and completed the mission.

Unfortunately, I have not witnessed this concept of forward thinking being embraced by submarine forces. A sailor, regardless of gender, should be given a chance to earn those dolphins.

Surface combatants launch Tomahawk missiles with female sailors onboard. Fighter jets are piloted by female officers daily without compromise. And the female shipmates I served with were the impetus in fostering a harmonious working environment.

ITCS (SW) Teddy Jerome Ripley

Bremerton, Wash.

Serious about alcohol?

The one glaring omission that I think should have been addressed in the article “Battling booze” [May 18] concerns the Navy Exchange, mini-marts and commissaries.

I have been in plenty of these establishments; all, without exception, have contained aisle after aisle of alcoholic beverages.

I wonder just how serious the military is about curbing alcohol consumption. From what I have observed in all of these establishments, booze is highly promoted.

DC1 (SW/MTS) Donald Britt (ret.)

Corpus Christi, Texas

GI Bill transfers

I just read Rick Maze’s article “Approved: GI Bill transfers” [May 11].

For those post-9/11 veterans who retire before Aug. 1 — thanks for your service, but your service wasn’t as necessary or deserving as those who are active or retiring after Aug. 1. Transferability is only important as a recruiting and retention tool that doesn’t apply to you. You are already retired, and you are not a significant contributor to the future of our services. Step aside and watch how Pentagon policymakers manipulate GI Bill transferability policies to target the most deserving veterans to assure a viable future force.

I must say that the article is thorough at identifying all the facts about GI Bill transferability and how Pentagon policymakers insightfully guided legislation to include rules that would not drive members to stay in uniform to earn transferability. Impressive, but that’s where reporting ends and journalism takes a holiday. GI Bill transferability is a great story for service members, but what about all the other facts that make a full and truthful story?

To all active-duty service members, remember this veteran’s small voice identifying inequity today, and think about how and why veterans continue to suffer so much at the hands of well-meaning policymakers and legislators.

Air Force Maj. Miles Muramoto (ret.)

Lorton, Va.

MILITARY DESERVES BENEFIT

I was surprised to learn that not all federal employees are treated the same. As most of us have heard of a Thrift Savings Plan, how many knew that our civilian counterparts who are investing get matching contributions?

I propose that we get matching contributions, as well — either an automatic 5 percent or staggering every two years of service (i.e. two years equals 1 percent, four years two percent and so on, up to 10 years at 5 percent).

It would increase investment from military members and help in our retirement. And all those young guys getting out that don’t know how expensive the real world is would have a fallback.

Army Sgt. Patrick Hatfield

Hampton, Va.

Bravery on display

A couple of months ago, I was on an Air Force C-17 Medical Evacuation plane going from Ramstein, Germany, to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., because of a heart condition.

There were three dozen patients on the plane, and all are worthy of having their stories told. Most had suffered injuries of various degrees.

Of the three dozen, 13 were on litters during the nine-hour flight. The one closest to me had a red face that obviously had been burned. A buddy of his across the aisle had a similar condition, but not as severe.

The soldier with the more severe burns was in a lot of discomfort. Approximately every 45 minutes, he would sit up or move around as if in pain.

I learned he had been driving a vehicle hit by a roadside bomb. When the bomb detonated, he kept the vehicle moving. This not only added to the severity of his injuries, but most likely saved him and the others in the vehicle.

There was the Army explosives specialist sitting next to me with what was left of his right hand in bandages. Across the way was a soldier with a cast on his leg. Both of these individuals were nearly done with their time in country when their injuries occurred. One would have been going back stateside the following week.

One of the amazing things is that I never got the impression they were complaining or angry about their bad luck.

Sitting to my left was a Marine. To show how small our military can be, we had sailed on the same ship previously. His stance was proud, his attitude sharp and his strength evident from several tours of duty in combat zones.

He would not be returning to one again, though. It is not an enemy weapon that took this stellar individual out of the fight, but blood sugar. He had developed diabetes and would no longer be fit for combat operations. He was hopeful that his beloved Corps would find a place for him as a trainer; not being part of the Marines is something he could not comprehend.

Despite all the pain and suffering these Americans endured, they all had one thing in common: a positive attitude and pride. If anybody believes that our youth today do not have the guts or dedication to fight for this country, then ride in the back of a C-17 for a few hours.

Capt. David Owen

Virginia Beach, Va.