I read with extreme disgust the comments of some of our citizens about the “hot dog” pilots buzzing their homes! They KNEW when they bought that the Navy was here. (Protecting our rear-ends). As far as I’m concerned, the Johnstons can go back to quiet Colorado and sip Coors, and Gary Blevins can go anywhere he likes.

What do these people think pilots are anyway? Do they think military pilots are a bunch of laid back vegetables? It takes a lot of guts, determination, and practice to fly into computer directed war. My hat’s off to all the Navy people, and let me take this opportunity to thank them once again for the job they are doing.

Lastly, I have noticed that the complainers about the military all seem to brag about their own heroic actions, just like the protesters were. Now that seems very strange to me. I just find it hard to imagine these people whining because they can’t lie around, enjoying going to pot because of the noise, when each proclaims himself as a former war hero. You’d think that former pilots would know how important practicing critical airspeeds and landing patterns really is. And computerized weaponry should require the same diligent practice too, although I know little about it, and I want it to stay that way.

They are doing something that I cannot, and never will be able to do, and neither can the complainers.

Ken Severine

Oak Harbor