June 1919 Proceedings—“When the history of the great war is written,” Lieutenant Commander L. B. Bye, U. S. Navy, wrote in “U.S. Naval Railway Batteries,” “the activities of the United States Navy in cooperating with the Allies and contributing to the offensive measures which caused the downfall of the enemy will be disclosed. The Navy had engaged on the Western Front, from September 1918 until the armistice, five 14-inch 50-caliber guns on railway mounts designed by the Navy Bureau of Ordnance, transported to France, erected and put into operation at a time when such long-range weapons were vital.”
June 1969 Proceedings—In his prize essay “Victory in Limited War,” Lieutenant Charles L. Parnell, U.S. Navy, wrote: “We do not like the role of world policeman, but to ignore what happens in other lands would hasten the day when, after having brought that 94 percent of the world’s population lying outside the United States under their control, the Communists would come knocking on the door of America. Though counterinsurgency in the Western Hemisphere might be easier than in the rice paddies of Asia, it would wiser to win over there keeping the enemy at a distance.”
June 1994 Proceedings—In “Presence—Forward, Ready, Engaged,” Rear Admiral Philip A. Dur, U.S. Navy, wrote “On any given day, almost 20 percent of the U.S. Navy is deployed overseas, engaged in peacetime military operations. Additional ships and aircraft squadrons are preparing for deployment. All told, 40 percent of the fleet is deployed, underway, or preparing for deployment. Keeping ships forward today requires supporting force structure at a time of significantly reduced defense spending. The returns will be measured in: Deterrence of aggression; Enhancement of regional stability; Improvement of interoperability with key allies; and Readiness to provide a timely crisis response.”
A. Denis Clift
Golden Life Member
