“Man Overboard,” both literally and figuratively speaking.

Mr. Speaker, in February of this year I tweeted to the President of the United States with no expectations that it would cross his eyes. Therefore, it was mostly an attempt to get a conversation started with the American people.  This blog is different Mr. Speaker.  It’s called “Man Overboard.”  But first I needed to give a little background.  In 2016 my book “Guidance Against the Odds” was published.  I had no writing experience, and the two-year process taught me a lot.  First and foremost, the words a person uses and how presented, written or spoken, can depict the character of a person.  In 1963 I was serving as a Fly Talker on the Flight deck of the USS Forrestal (CVA59).  I communicated with Flight Deck Control and other Fly Talkers in real time the physical positions of planes, personnel, and equipment.  In that job, I learned the valuable lesson of human/social cohesiveness.  On a typical day of flight operations in the Mediterranean Sea, a fellow shipmate fell overboard; to flight deck control, I immediately radioed “Man overboard!” “Man overboard,” port side!   As I watched him hit the water, the ship began to turn. I was later told by my Division Officer, the tone of my voice, gave no hesitation in notifying the Officer of the Day.  His words were true, for it was almost immediate when I heard the Boatswain of the Watch “Man Overboard” “Man Overboard, port side!”   This 81 thousand ton warship, the length of three football fields began to turn with shipmates working as a team to save a life.   Mr. Speaker, you are third in line to the presidency. As Commander in Chief, the words you use can make or break the cohesiveness of a nation.  “Loose lips sink ships,” meaning — “beware of unguarded talk.” When will real leaders yell “Man overboard” to our president to bring our country together?

N. C. Martin was my shipmate from the state of Ohio. I watched him hit the water belly first. He did not survive. Although his death was an accident, I learned something about human nature. I was 18 years old. For the record Mr. Speaker, I am now 73 and my account of life in my book “Guidance Against the Odds” is surely not fake news.  Let’s not trivialize Charlottesville, Virginia to a “both sides” scenario and the death of Heather Heyer who stood up for what she believed.  Call it for what it is — “Man Overboard.”

Henry Lee Faulkner

Chief Navy Counselor

U S Navy Retired