With the Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act now history (Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, DoD Directive 1348.33-M) - soon (by July we hope) to be entered into regulations, my thoughts also drift back to the fight to get the U.S.S. Missouri out to Pearl, The High Year Tenure situation as concerns an adopted Navy kid that we know, and the Ligaya Lagman, Gold Star Mothers situation - long hard fights, one and all, maybe it is time to take a rest!

Maybe I am getting a little long in the tooth (and tired) for this sort of thing, but they had to be done, and so it is!

I appreciate the opportunity to explore new avenues, even if a few in the past have accused me of being paranoid. “I guess that someone has to be?”

In either case, and as much as I try not to, when something does not look right to me, like Don Quixote, I usually attempt to do something about it.

I have, however, been truly amazed over the numbers of people who helped, but disappointed as well, in those who did little or nothing, yet sprung to the forefront, after the fact, to claim that they, and they alone, did all of the work in the effort? Unfortunately, even a friend or two were involved in this “Johnnie Come Lately Antics”, and that really hurt!! But no matter, as I have in file letters to support my contentions. And after all is said and done, the tasks were completed with a satisfactory outcome, much of the time.

“The bottom line is clear, however!” If something bothers you - question it! If something is wrong - challenge it! And even if the odds and the vested are stacked up against you - do not hesitate to fight back!! It may not be the profitable thing to do, and it may garner criticism from cronies of the clique or the connected, but if you believe in what you are doing, you can never be faulted!

VERITAS (Truth)