Letters

Re “In seconds, pirates are killed and U.S. captain is rescued,” April 13

The often overworked word “hero” is used correctly today -- it does apply to Capt. Richard Phillips, a man who happened to have the focus of the media on him as he acted with courage and made many right moves.

Each time stories like Phillips’ meet our consciousness (think of US Airways Capt. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III, who landed a passenger jet safely in the Hudson River in January), debate arises over whether on-the-job actions drawing on training, guts and duty qualify for the big-H designation.

Certainly they do.

There are other members of the merchant marine whose accounts we have not yet heard. And the U.S. military personnel who acted out this drama in the dangerous waters -- they are heroes as well.

Nancy Lloyd

Corona

::

Captain freed, pirates killed.

Mission actually accomplished.

Robert Ostrove

Oxnard