Civilians Aboard Navy Submarines

Re “Navy Panel Will Consider Charges Against Sub Crew,” Feb. 18: Having served in the Army during WWII and the Korean thing, I had many opportunities to observe the brass and political interference in covering their collective butts. Now that the higher-ups are considering charges against Cmdr. Scott Waddle, Lt. Cmdr. Gerald K. Pfeifer and officer of the deck Lt. j.g. Michael J. Coen, I am wondering if this is a hunt for a scapegoat.

Were the civilians there in the sub at the direct invitation of Waddle or were his superiors arranging all this as a PR event, and the commander had to follow orders and go along with it? If so, the commander’s superiors should be on trial also.

I feel the whole episode is sad. Even during a “training” exercise, service-trained personnel should be in charge and not some civilian along for a name-dropping outing.

ERWIN BLAKE

Palm Desert

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Ships of our Navy should belong to all of us, but apparently only select civilians are welcome aboard our carriers, submarines, etc. They include lobbyists with Pentagon connections, the press and, of course, politicians. I would assume that their influence is counted on to help increase the number of ships in our fleet, tactically needed or not.

MARTIN COYNE

Santa Monica

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A night in the Lincoln Bedroom pales in comparison to a two-day joy ride on a nuclear sub. Where do I put my name on the list for a ride?

PAUL LUX

Thousand Oaks