LETTERS Discovering NMHS and Sea History I am a 1963 graduate of the m aritime curriculum aboard the schoolship john W Brown, a Worid War II Liberty ship now berthed in Baltimore, M aryland, and maintained (after an impressive restoration effort) by the talented and dedicated volunteers of Project Liberty Ship (PLS) , and the JWB Alumni Association . During a visit aboard the Brown in 2008, I was given the mailing address of my junior year (1962) deck instructor, Luigi Tibaldi, by Capt. Rick Bauman, as he had contact
information for former faculty members. I thank th e good captain for this every chance I get. Luigi moved to Italy years ago after many years as a john W Brown faculty m ember, and, for the past four years, Luigi and I have enjoyed a correspondence of mutual admiration and reminiscences that go back almost a half century. We exchange letters, handwritten (!) because Luigi does nor have email and his hearing loss does nor allow fo r telephone communications. In a March 2011 letter, my old instructor asked me to find him a current address for NMHS. I went online to honor the request and found my interest was peaked when I surfed your websi re, as I have had almost a lifelong attachment to all things having to do with ships and seafaring (I was a deckhand aboard oil rankers). Sea History looked like something I would like to get (I now know it to be the best periodical for my interests), and I could see why Luigi wo uld want a membership-once again the reacher found a good resource for the student. So I applied for rwo memberships, one for Luigi as a
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gift and one for mysel( Luigi wanted an address and so he got it with an additional benefit. I have no doubt that these rwo memberships will continue for some time to come. Thank yo u. RrcHARD J. LAr Copper Hill, Virginia
Painted Lady I think it is just fine for the United States Coast Guard- and for coast guards around the world-to make good use of an emblem to make themselves more rec-
ognizable to the public in the course of their duties policing, rescuing, and patrolling the coasts, bur the training ship Eagle is not involved in those duties. She is a training ship first, bur her role as an am-
USCGCEagle
bassador ship representing the US abroad is a close second. How anyone could think that tattooing the skin of a graceful and dignified lady would be a good idea is beyond me. Eagle is a spectacular example of square-rig sailing ships from an era long past. Her lines and sail plan make her a sight of genuine beauty. Removing tattoos from the skin is difficult and painful; bur removing Eagle's tattoo would only require a few coats of paint. If they need a hand, I'd be happy to bring along my paintbrush and some white paint. I commend our Coast Guard for the hard work and profess ionalism with which they do their important mission, but the decision to paint a garish red stripe on Eagle was a poor one-but one that can be easily remedied. THOMAS A. MouREAu Bryn M awr, Pennsylvania
Why Another Ship? I read with concern, or rather a fair bit of rolling of the eyes, when I read in the last issue's "Ship Notes" section abo ut the p lan to build another rail ship in Rhode Island
Join Us for a Voyage into History Ou r seafa rin g heritage comes alive in the pages of Sea History, from the a ncient mariners of G reece to Portu guese navigators opening up the ocea n world to the heroic effo r ts of sailors in modern-day conflicts. Each issue brings new insights a nd discoveries. If you love the sea, rivers, la kes, and
bays-if you appreciate the legacy of those who sail in deep water a nd their workaday craft, then you belong with us.
Join Today ! Ma il in the form below, phone 1 800 221 -NMHS (6647), or visit us at: www.sea history.org (e-mail : nmhs@seahistory.org)
Yes, I want to join the Society and receive Sea History quarterly. My contribution is enclosed. ($ 17.5 0 is for Sea History; any amount above that is tax deductib le.) Sign me up as: 0 $35 Regular Member 0 $50 Fam ily Member 0 $ 100 Friend 0 $25 0 Parron 0 $5 00 Donor
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Mr./Ms . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
----------------------~ZIP ______ Return to: National Maritime Historical Society, PO Box 68, Peekskill, NY 10566
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