COMBAT: Battle of words

I said I wasn’t going to write in anymore. My mistake.

Bill Configliacco and many others would like to know what “Old Faithful’s” MOS was. So would I. He once called me out and wanted to compare DD214s (Friday, Feb. 23). He asked if I was “Boots on the Ground” or “Safe on a Ship.”

In combat, boots can run. Sailors stay, fight, die and win.

OK Dan, I see your DD214 and raise ya five (one, two, three, four, five) Silver “Battle E” awards (excellence in battle — not handed out freely), one Humanitarian Medal (for risking life and limb beyond the call of duty to save my fellow shipmates) and a second Humanitarian Medal (for volunteering to rescue and recover civilians trapped or killed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake), and three Letters of Commendation (R. Adml. Toney, 7th Fleet). Also, I’m the designer and creator of the LMG “Fast Action” Dogwrench used Navy-wide today. (I was a patternmaker. That was my MOS.) Our allies also utilize this simple, but brilliant wrench. Top that, Killer!

P.S. Between Patternmakers (3) and Hull Techs (16), we had the U.S.S. Stark repaired and fighting again in three days — at sea! Safe on a ship?! Really?

LEE M. GIBSON, USN

Rathdrum

Editor’s note: MOS means Military Occupational Specialty code.