February 1923 Proceedings-—In “Destroyer Experiences During the Great War, Part III,” Captain J. K. Taussig, U.S. Navy, wrote, “It took some little time to get the convoy system properly organized. For a while, the destroyers would travel light one way. That is, we would take a convoy to sea and come back to port without one; or would go to sea without a convoy and bring one back. [As the number of convoys grew,] we improved, taking one to the limit of the submarine danger zone, and then join company with an inbound convoy.”
February 1973 Proceedings—“In Lightweights and Heavyweights,” about the relative merits of new Navy and Air Force fighters, Captain G. G. O’Rourke, U.S. Navy, wrote “Within a squadron, self-confidence, [or] the lack of it, is extremely infectious and can make or break the combat effectiveness of the entire command. This explains why fighter pilots consider themselves the elite of all airmen, and why other pilots, who understand some of the subtleties of a fighter pilot’s psyche, tend to treat them with humor, patience, forbearance, and a touch of disdain—and rarely approve of a sister marrying one of them.”
February 1998 Proceedings—“Innovation is the key to success in today’s smaller Navy,” Senior Chief Firecontrol Technician John Snell, U.S. Navy, wrote in his prize-winning essay, “Leave a Legacy.” “Professional development must not stop when anchors or stars are fixed to one’s collars. If we are not looking continually for new and better ways to lead our people, then we are doing them—and the Navy—a disservice. This is truly a young person’s game—and for senior enlisted leaders to remain on the field and contribute, we must devise the right plays to ensure that our can-do Sailors win.”
A. Denis Clift
Golden Life Member