Letters
Thanks for casting a broader net in the stories you cover. I was very glad to see you will seek out more stories on people of color, indigenous people, and women. I have always been proud that seafarers worked together with all nationalities to get the job done. The seafarers language is an example of communicating with a crew of many countries. Thanks, and looking forward to more in-depth stories. Will Jackson Golden, Colorado It was beyond the pale when I read in Sea History magazine about the decision to remove the name from one of the most decorated ships in the US Coast Guard, USCGC Taney. This is unconscionable! I really don’t care about the man Taney, we all have history that is good and bad. I am sure that if you look hard enough, you can find something in everyone’s past that might not have been the right choice at the time. What I do care about is the ship USCGC Taney. This ship has done nothing wrong, yet it is being punished by removing the name and doing a disservice to all the sailors who served aboard. The Taney has proudly served its country for 50 years, providing invaluable service in three wars, conducting search-and-rescue missions, acting as law enforcement on the high seas and saving many lives over its commendable history. A history that this “ship USCGC Taney” accomplished and now has been taken away by calling her just one of the treasure class ships. It is clear that whoever made the deci6
sion to remove the name has never served aboard a ship. If so, they would have known the bond that sailors have with their ships. It is something that is truly remarkable and lasts a lifetime. As a teenager, I had the opportunity to visit the Taney in Alameda, CA, during an open house and saw firsthand the pride of the crew. She was called the “Queen of the Pacific.” I think it is time to put the name of this historic ship back where it belongs or give it back to the Coast Guard for a proper burial at sea. I hope that you find this letter helpful rather than unpleasant—it was written with the best of intentions from a former US Navy sailor who served aboard three different ships, that live in my memory/heart still today. William Lavine San Jose, California Removing Taney’s name from the Coast Guard cutter was the right call. The USCG designation (WHEC-37) remains the same. The original naming of the ship after Taney was a reflection of the distorted view of Southern and US history dominating the moment. The change in no way diminishes the contributions of the ship and generations of crew. It might be hard to swallow for some surviving crew who identify with the name (but not the meaning of the name). John Odin Jensen, PhD Pensacola Florida Dr. Jensen is a member of the Sea History Editorial Advisory Board.
Great magazine though, do not stray from your mission, grovelling is not what we are looking for. Hendrik Bergen
Carmine, Texas
Hospital Ships — A Grateful Captain, Lieutenant, and POW I had the good fortune to meet my late wife, Liz, when she was serving as an ensign, US Navy Nurse Corps, registered nurse anesthetist, at the US Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. I was a Lieutenant, Junior Grade, United States Coast Guard at the time, serving as a watch officer in the CG Cutter Triton in the Caribbean Sea. Triton was on patrol when I suffered a ruptured appendix, and it was five days before my ship could get me to Corpus Christi Naval Hospital, by which time my condition was classified as “extremely critical.” My parents were notified of my critical condition. I was Liz’s patient for over six weeks, during which time we became so fond of each other’s company that we were married in 1953. The marriage lasted for 67 years and produced three daughters, five granddaughters, and a grandson.
courtesy capt robert a. moss, uscg (ret.)
Reconciling Social Justice and Maritime Heritage From the editor: In the previous issue of Sea History, our president, Burchenal Green, reported on the actions that a number of maritime heritage organizations are taking in light of the national discussion surrounding race and inequality. In that issue’s “Deck Log,” she also renewed the Society’s pledge to continue our efforts to be inclusive in the stories we cover. We received a great deal of positive feedback—but not unanimous support—and the letters below will show the range of opinions that our readers have regarding this issue. —DO’R
I was struck by the overwhelming number of reactive issues published in this issue [Sea History 172, Autumn 2020]. Now that racial injustice, inequality, diversity, social justice became the buzzwords next to Covid-19, you jumped on the bandwagon big time. Do not worry, it is a typical American CAPT Robert and LT Elizabeth Moss, 1953. reaction. I just find it a little too much for a magazine like this and it only covers CauMy wife had a profound experience in casians vs. what we call now African Amer- her Navy career. In the 1990s, she shared icans. The seafaring segment did their share in our community paper a particularly in bringing these people over but they did meaningful story about the experience she not round them up in Africa. had serving aboard the hospital ship USS Going back to racial injustice, inequal- Haven immediately after World War II. I ity, diversity, social justice, then also address am including this in my letter in case you and include seamen from China, Philip- want to share it with your readers. pines, Indonesia, and other nations and CAPT Robert A. Moss, USCG (Ret.) recognize their contributions. Seguim, Washington SEA HISTORY 173, WINTER 2020–21