Capt. Scott O’Grady

* Thank you for the extensive news coverage about Capt. Scott O’Grady’s heroic rescue (June 8-9). His courageous survival for six days and the outstanding efforts by the military personnel involved in the rescue mission are inspiring to me.

On June 9, you reported that his sister, Stacy O’Grady, said, “What helped Scott pull through was the same thing that helped us--thinking about us and his love for his family.”

I believe O’Grady’s character, his intelligence and courage and the military’s flawless rescue operation offer us a much needed antidote to the daily news about the O.J. Simpson trial.

PATRICIA WILKINSION

Dana Point

* You quote our President as proclaiming Air Force Capt. O’Grady an American hero (June 9). Of course I am happy that the captain is back safely, but times do change. Fifty years ago, as I remember, it was the rescuers who would have been called heroes.

DOUG MURRAY

Rancho Palos Verdes

* We’ve spent billions of taxpayer dollars developing a stealthy aircraft (proven over Baghdad) to penetrate enemy airspace and protect our pilots. Why do we continue to fly our stealth fighters at air shows and our F-16s behind enemy lines? Wouldn’t the reverse be wiser?

REIN De BOER

Burbank

* Now I assume that President Clinton will get the credit for the rescue of O’Grady. He would surely get the blame if this ended tragically.

ISAAC HIRSCHBEIN

La Mesa

* O’Grady? Oh yes!

MARY MARTIN

Monarch Beach