Old Salt: your Aug 30, 2008 – 11:32 pm

So well said. Sea story…On Diego, my crew was on an off day celebrating at the O’Club. I was a navigator assigned in a Tactical Coordinator position, but not yet board certified. CO decision because of his confidence and trust in his officers. Example One of “just do it. Worry if you have to.”

Example two: On that detachment,a call comes in to medivac a badly injured civilian worker to the PI. My Mission Commander immediately gets on the horn to the CO at Cubi Point and says he wants to fly this guy (right now) to Cubi. Skipper asks has anyone been drinking and he responds “yes, all of us.” Skipper rephrases…”Can you fly 10 hours safely?” MC says yes, minimum crew. Skipper says “Go.” 45 minutes later we’re airborne enroute Cubi with a very badly injured (but now hopeful) civilian.

If we would have followed the “rules” and waited for other crews to come off crew rest, the medical types tell us the guy wouldn’t survive.

The CO bet his command on the value of human life and the trust he had in his flight crews.

Ask forgiveness – not permission.

The 37mm? I agree with putting big guns on small ships if you can. Better to kill the enemy.