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Silent Service = Not Noticed A commentary on a line from a speech "The Navy is a mysterious institution", said Harry Levins in Jan. 2002 at a Navy League council meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. Read the full copy of the speech here Mr Levins, a senior writer for the St. Louis Dispatch, is a former Army officer who served in Germany during the early '60s. Levins' bio excerpt, copied from the archived text.
My commentary: Levins' speech offered an informative and wry look at the Navy from the perspective of a ground pounder - but near the end of his narrative this phrase caught my eye: "In the Cold War, you folks took a back seat to the Air Force and Army." Now I really can't let that one slide. So I respectfully offer in evidence, as a form of clarifying enlightement to Mr. Levins - and for all other legs - this very small sampling. Three references, which I think will illustrate the fact that the USN was definitely NOT in any kind of "back seat" Cold War role. We just kept our mouths shut that's all.
Exhibit B: Remembering Lost Cold war Boats Exhibit C: 41 For Freedom The defense rests. Sid Harrison - March 2002
A cordial e-mail response to this webpage from Mr. Levins
From: hlevins@post-dispatch.com Dear Mr. Harrison: Your rebuttal falls under the category of Fair Comment, and I have no problem at all. But I <am> astounded at the circulation of that speech. To tell you the truth, it was an off-the-cuff effort. Somehow, it made the e-mail circuit, and it has generated a surprising amount of comment. Still, like most writers, I crave being read. Cheers, Harry Levins |