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[Ed. note: this email came in on a couple of fronts and after confirming the details I decided to post it in its entirety. Sad what our military has devolved into!]
Below are a pair of letters from Naval Aviators (one USN the other USMC) to the Co-Chairmen and President of the 100th Anniversary of the Naval Aviation Foundation ( http://www.navalaviation100.org/ ). Both writers make reference to the "Time Line" within the "100th Anniversary" web site ( the "Time Line" may have been removed from the web site). I think these two guys pretty well sum up the thoughts of those of us who have "been there, done that". They excel in telling it like it is.
Unfortunately, I am also afraid that much of what is written herein regarding the “PC” nature of present Naval Leadership can be applied to the administration of the U.S.Naval Academy. The disproportionate attention paid to “diversity” and the female contributions to an institution dedicated to the creation of a “warrior” leader has become laughable at best. The introduction of “flexible standards” is always a telltale signal of declining end product. The Naval Leaders I see remind me too often of the sad state of affairs within the Congress and White House, where it has been some time since true statesmen were present in any significant numbers.
Please read on.
Letter #1.
14 December, 2010
TO: Board Members, General Butcher, Admiral McLaughlin, Capt Di Matteo co-chairmen and president 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation.
FROM: Dennis Petretti, former Navy Attack Pilot.
Subject: Nonsense on your Time Line Website
Here's what's' predominately on your Current Time Line to name a few:
· First Marine & Navy female pilots? Wow! · Female astronaut? Who? · Female CO of a VAQ 34 EA-6 squadron…seriously? · Assault on Grenada. A Great Naval combat ops? · First Black Blue Angel? NO mention of the first Black Blue Angel Team Leader? · Blue Angel transition to F-18's? Really Significant? · Humanitarian effort to Indonesia? Sierra Hotel. Perhaps the Salvation Army and Navy should merge? · Recovery of Apollo 11? Yawn? · Mine laying mission Haiphong? So that was Vietnam?
From 1950-1972 basically nothing about Naval Air? Guess it didn't exist. Naval Air must have secured for twenty years? The boys must have been on "leave" partying down in Rosa Rita Beach and Olongapo?
· I guess you never heard about the Korean War and the Navy's first jet combat operations, as in The Bridges of Toko Ri? · Development of the Sidewinder Missile at China Lake, one of the world's premier air to air weapon still being used today? · Ever read an article by Capt Robert Rubel's "The US Navy's Transition to Jets" detailing the courage and human sacrifice Navy pilots endured transiting from piston aircraft to jets, from straight decks to angle decks. Read it and put it out…if you dare! · "1954 the Navy and Marines lost 776 aircraft and 535 men and never quit." No hi five's! · Vietnam War, basically almost a decade of nonstop naval combat air warfare. First time the Navy operated three or more carriers engaged in continual day/night all weather cyclic combat operations against NVN, SVN and Laos 24/7! Operated Red, White and Blue carrier's schedules 0600-1800, noon to Midnight, Midnight to noon. Take a look at the Navy & Marine aircraft loss rates, pilots killed or captured and yet these men never quit, never walked away or cried. No hi five's here, much less recognition?
· The Marines flying from Chu Lai, Da Nang and other fields in all kinds of weather, mountainous terrain with no fancy gear?
· "Ault Report" responsible for "Top Gun" (Navy Fighter Weapons School) changing Naval air–air warfare tactics forever and to this day, which by the way saved countless lives in naval air combat and turned around a horrible kill ratio among F-4's. Too "macho" not enough "Pink Bows and Teddy Bears" for today's navy?
· Creation of the Naval Air and Strike Warfare Center at Fallon?
As a former Navy A-4 attack pilot with two Vietnam Cruises, this whole current PC 'Cheerleading" Time Line on your website is nothing more than a Disney World silly symbolism and girlie-man PR stunt…nothing more. Worse, it's a basic slap in the face to the tens of thousands of Navy and Marine aviators whom took enormous risks, gave their lives, and demonstrated enormous courage under daunting conditions to build what Naval Air has become today. Not this crap! You should be ashamed of yourselves, if that's possible. It might be hard to admit in today's highly charged political climate, but the current state of Naval Air was not built by a few females or black pilots or some a future gay or transgender pilot. You and Admiral Mike Mullen probably can't wait to fill those important squares? 100 years of Naval Air was built on the blood, sweat and toil of dedicated men. Looking at the numbers, nothing much has changed?
Snap Out of it Ladies!
Dennis
Letter #2
"This website is nothing but "PC Bullshit" brought to you by the political class of Naval Aviation. You look at the Historical Timeline for Naval Aviation and you mention the first female Naval Aviator and first female Naval Aviator astronaut ... as being major milestones in Naval Aviation History?... Bullshit! Yet there is no mention of Halsey, Foss, McCampbell, Korea, Vietnam ... on and on. Is there a single man on this net that feels "Women's Contribution" to Naval Aviation poses any significant impact on Naval Aviation History? No freakin' way!
I served with and under giants in Naval Aviation .... for 80 years there wasn't a woman in sight ... two World Wars ... then Korea, Vietnam and a whole host of brush fire conflicts around the globe. Do you honestly think that a Naval Aviator female astronaut's contribution is as significant as John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Wally Shirra, Jim Lovell or Neil Armstrong? Our POW's? Only assholes living and making a living in the bowels of Washington would buy that bullshit.
When I think of the warriors and leaders we've had for a hundred years ... I can't think of a single damn female who'd be a nit on the nut of a gnat in the scheme of things when you get down to it. Yet these political hacks think that's important? Go pound sand!
When I think of the thousands of Naval Aviators who gave their lives in combat and in furthering the envelope of flight ... and these jerks think a female getting her wings (after the standards were waived)... and a female becoming an astronaut after that pool has been diluted there as well ... is significant? It's an insult!!!!
I just tore up my check I was gonna send in and encourage you to do the same. Probably the greatest compliment ever paid to Naval Aviation by a civilian was Micheners' great line in Toko Ri .... "Where do we get such men" ... Every Naval Aviator knows that line by heart ... it made us proud to be in such a select fraternity. And to be honest ... we still don't know the answer and there is no common thread other than the willingness to serve and compete ... it takes a special breed. We come from America ... we didn't get there through politics or political bludgeoning ... no one waived the standards for us ... we did it and we served.
I'm gonna close with this ... Naval Aviators come from the America that I know ... But I can also tell you where they didn't come from ... From ass kissing, PC Flags and their lackeys who put symbolism and Political Correctness ... ahead of honorable Service and true Historical Significance. This group is a farce."
Kiss My Ass ... Shadow
SO will they revoke the pensions of these Neanderthals, or send them to a re-education camp?