Friday, March 18, 2005 | 3:50 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
March 19 - 20, 2005
I served in the Navy under a ship's captain just like the one portrayed in the 1955 movie "Mr. Roberts." The captain of my ship was more concerned about his own advancement than he was in his crew. After two serious collisions with other ships, he was relieved of his command. In his place an ex-submarine captain was put in command of our ship.
Our morale went from zero to 100 percent. Submarine captains were known to be close to their men. When he came aboard, a small sailboat came aboard with him. When we got to a port of call, the first thing that went into the water was that sailboat. He sure did love to sail that boat. As a crew, we took real pride in watching him in that little boat. If that man said, "Follow me to hell," to the man we would have been with him.
We could use a man like him at the helm of the USS America. Instead we have the captain of USS Corporate America. What collisions are over the horizon?
JOHN TOMINSKY
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