21 May 1955
Dear Son,
A little over a quarter of a century ago I was on the verge, as you are today, of being graduated from the Naval Academy. No doubt your thoughts now, as mine were then, are occupied largely with the imminent release from a rigid routine of studies, drills, classes and a restriction of liberties that few people undergo for such an extended period. It is right and proper that you should anticipate this release, because it, together with the honor that comes with graduation, is a reward for which you can well be proud.
It is only natural that on this occasion I should reflect upon the years that have passed since I stood in your present position, and recall some of the lessons that they have brought. Also, it is perhaps only natural that I should want to pass those lessons along to you with the hope that they will be of some benefit to you in your career. For, in order that man progress, isn’t it necessary that each generation build upon the experiences of those that have gone before?
In reality these thoughts that I pass along for your consideration are not new but, rather, are well proven truths that are brought more sharply into focus with the passing of time. They are frequently either forgotten or disregarded by many who would readily recognize their worth, but who find the press of everyday living too exacting to give them the attention they deserve.
The naval profession has no superior in honor and service to its country. It has played a major role in the establishment and maintenance of virtually all great nations, and particularly our own. It is a profession that is respected, trusted, and depended upon by the civilian populace. It could not have reached its present stature and survived so long had it not yielded returns commensurate with the country’s investment and faith in it. Therefore, the uniform is one we wear with a pride that raises it above any act of dishonor.
Periodically there are those who maintain that the Navy is outmoded, and that wars can be fought and won more quickly and cheaply without a major naval effort. One of the greatest mistakes that the United States could make would be to succumb to such a philosophy. To do so would be to voluntarily sacrifice one of the major elements of a strategical and tactical combination of air force, army, and naval forces that, when employed in concert, are far stronger than the sum of their separate strengths. Periods of naval ultra-conservatism have been left far behind. The Navy of today, and of recent decades, has incorporated the use of the most modern weapons and equipments. Virtually the entire range of modern technological advancements has multiplied the Navy’s striking power many-fold, and we are well embarked upon further strides forward. I am not alone in forecasting naval developments in the near future that will dwarf anything that we have seen in the past. Nuclear power, nuclear weapons, electronics, and guided missiles are present day realities, but still in their infancy. You are most fortunate in entering the Navy at a time when you can participate in such development and growth.
Modern technology and its adaptation to military uses receive much publicity, attention, and stress. They are rightfully sources of pride. Regardless, however, of the importance of scientific achievement the prime ingredient of our profession is the human being, the individual. We call many of our weapons and equipment automatic. They are not automatic. Somewhere along the line their input and, consequently, their output are products of the human mind.
We must never lose sight of the importance of the individual in our profession, regardless of any apparently humble part he plays. Our weapons become progressively more destructive, and our equipments more efficient, but at the same time they both become more complicated. The time required for training the operating and maintenance personnel is likewise becoming progressively longer. The chances for error on the part of some individual in the chain of control become progressively greater. Every man of every rate must be constantly alert to do the right thing at the right time, and he must know of his importance and the heavy responsibility that he carries. I have found that a man’s sentiments, emotions, and personal feelings are not dependent upon his rate or rank. The basic superiority of democracy lies in its emphasis upon recognition of the individual human being.
Many things combine to submerge the individual in modem living. In both civilian and military life people are all too frequently dealt with in masses and classes in an impersonal manner. In the Armed Services they are frequently known better by their written service record than they are personally by those in whose hands lies their destiny. The very bigness of our Navy, and the many and varied duties of the higher ranking officers militate against that close personal association which is so desirable.
Actually, the Navy is well organized to retain many of the advantages of a small organization, even though it, as a service, is large. The personnel of ships and stations are divided up into comparatively small units of divisions. These are normally in charge of an officer who is in an excellent position to know each man individually and to exercise and develop a high degree of leadership. Those years while you are a division officer or a junior division officer afford an outstanding opportunity for you to further develop and exercise leadership.
I have seen officers and men repeatedly spend many consecutive hours of daylight and darkness repairing defective equipment. When the need arises we must make a comparable effort on behalf of a man who has erred. We should be able to detect quickly those erring individuals who will benefit from our guidance, and we must turn to in their behalf with even more zeal than with a piece of defective equipment.
The American youth is wonderful material with which to work. He usually comes to the Navy while young and still in his formative years. Aside from his technical training his value to the Navy depends greatly upon what we call “moral fiber.” The decline of many nations, ancient, medieval, and modern, can be attributed to the loss of the moral fiber of their citizenry. American greatness can never survive its loss.
What do I mean by the term “moral fiber”? I cannot hope to define it completely. In itself it is somewhat intangible, but its manifestations are readily apparent when crises arise. We might say it consists of such things as honor, integrity, self-respect, fortitude in adversity, and the will to win. These are some of the things that have been implanted in the average American youth by the average American home, church, and school. Fostering and encouraging their growth while these men are in our charge is a heavy responsibility that we must never forget nor fail to accept.
This philosophy of stressing the importance of the individual does not incorporate in any sense a doctrine of undue softness. Tautness and firmness in a leader, when administered with justice, will generate respect and inspire subordinates, whereas softness will undermine morale quickly.
I mentioned earlier the relaxation that will accompany the release from the rigid program that you have followed for the past four years. The change will be a radical one. While you will continue to meet schedules and adhere to prescribed routines you will have a great deal more freedom. This freedom is not limited to a physical sense only, but is extended to include many aspects of the performance of your duties. In other words, you will not be told in such detail as to how to do many things, and your own initiative will be allowed to display itself to a far greater extent than heretofore. Many are slow to make this transformation. They accept the freedom but do not shoulder readily the responsibilities that come with it. I suggest that you recognize the possibilities of such an error and that you enter into your new duties as an officer with enthusiasm and energy without delay. I have seen many young officers take too long to make a start, and the longer one waits the harder it becomes. Time does not permit delay. Your career will rush by at an incredible speed. Each new job will bring with it increased responsibilities that can be discharged best only if full advantage has been taken of the time and experiences that have gone before.
Some may feel that the Navy makes demands upon us that are beyond the capacity of the average individual. I do not agree. The difference between superiority and mediocrity in performance is more often the result of the difference between application of the talents we have rather than because of the lack of inherent ability.
As regards motivation I would rule out the immediate objective of pleasing your seniors as an end in itself. In this regard I can do no better than to pass on advice that I received when I was first graduated. It was to the effect that each assignment should be carried out to the very best of my ability, and with a pride of accomplishment rather than a hope of reward as a major motivation.
I think it important that all officers reflect occasionally upon the basic nature of a naval career as compared to most civilian professions. We are the servants of a benevolent country, and our motivation stems more from devotion to service than from materialistic rewards. Historically, nations pass through dynamic and passive phases. The United States at the present time is in a dynamic phase requiring the highest caliber of public servants, of which class the military is a part. In my opinion it is unfortunate that this phase should be accompanied by such heavy emphasis upon national and individual materialism. An esprit de corps based upon a love of service and country must take precedence over materialism as the philosophy of naval officers.
The above is not intended to infer that a. naval career does not offer some materialistic rewards. A close analysis of the salary and security features will disclose many advantages of a naval career from the financial security point of view. However, these advantages more normally accrue to those who spend most of their life, rather than only a few years, in the service. In reality, the financial rewards can be considerably enhanced by exercising a greater degree of individual frugality than most of us do. Except in those rare instances of unavoidable financial adversity I think it possible and appropriate that officers of all ranks set aside a portion of their salary as savings.
We must resist any tendency to be stifled in personal progress by confining our efforts to routine duties. Advantage should be taken of spare time to expand our knowledge of history, strategy, tactics, and comparable items that touch on our profession. There is much along these lines to absorb, and habits for such study should be begun at the outset of your career and cultivated assiduously. U. S. naval history and tradition are particularly inspiring and they deserve more attention and study than given by the average naval officer. When the fury of the Battle of Pearl Harbor broke upon us unexpectedly we were reduced largely to individual, or small group, action. I was surprised to note flashing through my mind thoughts of our rich naval heritage, and such thoughts provided further incentives for any efforts on my part that day, modest as they were.
The naval profession has many interesting aspects that make it a highly desirable profession. However, it is not all glamour. Like virtually all professions it contains much detailed work that, considered in itself, could be called drudgery. Records, figures, curves, and statistics require tedious work but they serve as bases for very important decisions. Their compilation must receive the same conscientious effort as the more glamorous aspects of your work.
Your career will be unusual if it does not include disappointments, frustrations, and discouragement. These may at times appear to be overwhelming, but they must not be allowed to persist. One of the standards by which men are measured is the extent to which they overcome adversity.
You will, no doubt, encounter considerable internal criticism of Navy procedures in various fields. Most of us will readily admit that room exists for improvement, but it cannot be accomplished solely by verbal criticism. Furthermore, initiation of action for improvement is, primarily, the responsibility of those of us within the Navy, rather than of those without. All ranks and ratings should therefore be constantly on the alert for detecting the need for such action. A word of caution is appropriate here. Custom, precedent, and protocol sometimes stand in the way of action that might appear desirable. Should there be a question that the proposed action might violate these, or official regulations, your seniors should be consulted before taking flights into the unknown. A large portion of your proposals may be thereby stopped short of implementation, but don’t be too discouraged. After all, it is better to have one’s wings clipped rather than atrophied by disuse.
The average naval officer may appear to possess a self-sufficient and independent air that exhibits little need for reliance upon Divine assistance and guidance. Do not trust such an impression. I have found that, in the majority of the naval officers of my acquaintance, there is a devotion to God that belies a seemingly hard exterior. Such devotion is usually, and quite appropriately, quiet and unostentatious but it is a unique source of strength. Thanks to the Divinity in times of triumph, reliance upon His guidance when faced with a difficult decision, and a request for His assistance in the midst of adversity are not unmasculine acts.
The serious vein of this letter up to this point might leave the impression that little room is left in the naval profession for relaxation and recreation, and that it is too exacting to be enjoyed. If such an impression has been left I want to dispel it completely. I think there is no better way to close this letter than to assure you that much joy and pleasure are inherent in the profession itself. Retain your cheerful nature, your sense of humor, your zest for living. They will stand you in good stead, and you will find ample outlets for them all. Cultivate friendships, both service and civilian; pursue cultural interests; broaden your horizons constantly. The environment is favorable for these accomplishments. Exploit it fully and your contentment will enhance your value to the Navy, your country, and yourself.
Welcome aboard, Dad
This article in its present form was, in fact, a letter written by the commanding officer of a cruiser to his son on the occasion of his son’s graduation from the U. S. Naval Academy in June, 1955. It came to the attention of the Board of Control of the U. S. Naval Institute and, because of the intrinsic worth of its sound advice, is shared here with our members.