Hands Across the Water
Back in 1981, a Marine and two Sailors—editor-in-chief Clay Barrow Jr., senior editor Paul Stillwell, and managing editor Fred Rainbow—hatched a great idea that continues to enliven Proceedings today, fully 27 years later. The time had come, that trio of worthies decided, for the journal of the Sea Services to briefly set aside its understandable fixation with the Soviet Navy and turn its spotlight on the scores of other navies sailing the maritime commons.
A pencil drawing of an Argentine carrier retrieving aircraft by renowned aviation artist R. G. Smith graced the cover of that first International Navies issue. The magazine itself included exhaustive reviews of navies in virtually every region of the world as well as articles that illuminated the seafaring activities of individual nations.
In 1992, Proceedings reacted to the end of the Cold War by, for the first time, asking commanders of the world's navies to tell readers in their own words how events on the global stage affected their nation and its sea service.
Twenty-two commanders responded to the question, "How will changes in the superpower relationship affect the future of your navy." Few foisted off the chore of responding on subalterns. Admiral Sir Julian Oswald, First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, responded for Great Britain. Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, chief of the Indian Naval Staff, provided his thoughts as well. In fact, almost all respondents were their navies' top officers.
This year's question was: How do you explain to your government and fellow citizens why your navy is necessary and worth what it costs?
The responses, which begin on page 28, were provided by 28 commanders. We have identified 117 countries with Sea Services from an embassy listing provided by the State Department. The process begins in late September with the first discussions of the question. The letters go out to the embassies to be forwarded to the navy chiefs in mid to late November to provide enough time for a response.
As one would expect, the responses are as varied as the navies they represent. Several chiefs just have too much going on and politely let us know that they would not be responding. In particular Vice Admiral Ihor Tenyukh of the Ukraine and Vice Admiral Hans V. Holmström of Finland sent their regrets. We miss their company as Ukraine was a first-time respondent last year and Finland has a long record of participation.
Some chiefs provided their responses to us directly, rather than through staff aides. And by doing so, they gave us a bit of insight into their personalities. For one, we look forward to some day meeting New Zealand's Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson. In a series of candid, personable e-mails, he noted that he didn't particularly care for this year's question. Yet, "it got me thinking about the one I think is more important—certainly for the RNZN." We think that you will find, as we did, that his answer was spot on in the spirit of the question and should provide his peers—and the rest of us—with much to ponder.
Our thanks go to all the chiefs of navy, their aides, and especially the naval and military attachés in Washington who helped make this issue possible. And to Associate Editor James Caiella, for whom the International Navies issue has become an annual labor of, uh, love. If Jim didn't exist, we'd have to invent him, at least if we ever hoped to get this issue out.
Distinguished speakers, mainly very senior Navy and Marine officers, highlighted last month's WEST conference in San Diego, sponsored by USNI and AFCEA International (page 68). All rightfully commanded attention; one speaker left the audience breathless.
Charles Bowen, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, delivered an evening address, a relatively short one that focused on heroic acts by men and women of all the services. He closed his remarks by recalling the words of a fellow Coast Guardsman who, when asked about the heroism of a comrade who had lost his life in a sea rescue, replied:
"I don't mean to boast, but I work with heroes every day."
You could have heard a pin drop.