Mailbuoy Watch

Greetings, readers, and welcome to a Servicemembers United blog written by a Navy veteran, trusty Shellback, and general globe-trotter. There is so much to write about on so many fronts, but I wanted to begin, at least, with the story behind my blog title and a short seasonal soundbyte. The United States Navy is a Service rich with tradition, and although "political correctness" is diluting many of them, playing pranks on boot camps will probably always be a popular shipboard pastime. One I remember with fondness is assigning Sailors to man the "Mailbuoy Watch."

This prank begins with convincing a young squid that a ship receives her mail via a system of mailbuoys scattered throughout the seas. As a ship is big and buoys small, a watchstander must be assigned to look out for the buoys as the ship comes within range of one. Naturally, this is ludicrous, but when you're 18 years old and it's your first time on a U.S. Navy war vessel - an awe-inspiring, floating mass of metal and machinery - it's easy to believe even the absurd is possible.

So we're left with the young Sailor peering over the bow or over the side looking out for something that is not there, while those on watch get a harmless chuckle at his or her gullibility. I am stealing the name of this prank as the title of my blog for three reasons. First - it is a uniquely nautical expression - as a Navy veteran, I felt compelled to honor my relationship with the sea Service. Second - like "mailbuoys", blogs only appear sporadically - so readers must check periodically to get the latest updates. Finally - there is an interesting metaphor relating the "Mailbuoy Watch" and the Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell 'culture'.

Many among the military brass are "looking out" for an issue that simply isn't there. General Pace, the immediate past Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, calls homosexuality "immoral" while the federal government offers benefits to same-sex partners. In addition, the comfort level of having gay comrades-in-arms is pretty darn high (see Admiral's Call blog on this site). Proponents of Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell know thousands of gay and lesbian Servicemembers are honorably serving, yet they are pretending to "see" a gay-free military - "looking out" for something that is not and will never be there.

So, those are this Sailor's motivations for "Mailbuoy Watch". Time to get the blog underway.

This time of year, my thoughts always turn to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. Usually my wandering thoughts on this topic are centered around a respectful remembrance of those who died and the impact the attack had on the United States. I reflect on my trip to the USS ARIZONA Memorial and look down in my mind's eye at the beaten, sunken battleship, left in place to remember the fallen heroes and remind America of the terrible cost of freedom.

This site is dedicated to allowing our fellow gay and lesbian defenders of American freedom to serve, themselves, freely and openly. With this in mind, I consider the 3,581 military and civilian dead and wounded on December 7th 66 years ago. Applying the "1-in-10" rule, at least 358 of those honorable patriots were gay. Society in those days, however, had a much different take on homosexuality than today's, more open-minded society does. I wonder in horror at the emotional damage forced suppression of their sexuality in that environment caused. They were not able to reach out to those with whom they daily risked their lives, and they did not have the benefit of a support system inherent in a strong gay community like we have today.

And Pearl Harbor was just the beginning. You may be aware that the U.S. WWII death toll was roughly 418,500 (about the size of today's active duty Navy). Again applying the "1-in-10" rule, 41,850 gay brothers and sisters died for our country, all unable to fully enjoy the very freedom they died to secure.

Fast forward to 2007. During the weekend of 01 December an event occurred honoring Servicemembers discharged under a policy that forces homosexuals either out of the military or into the closet. 12,000 - the well-publicized 14-year total. 12,000 folks forced out.... thousands still serving in silence.

That's all I have for you this time. Until our wakes cross again, Fair Winds and Following Seas. (....and Go Navy, Beat Army!!)