THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605230012
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 43 lines
I can't get over the fact that Adm. Mike Boorda took his own life. I couldn't sleep the night his death was nounced. My wife and I talked about how great he was as a man as well as a Navy leader. There were times we even thought he'd make a great political leader after he retired.
My wife and I both serve proudly in the Navy and were stationed in Naples, Italy, when Admiral Boorda served as CINCSOUTH and CINCUSNAVEUR. He was the driving force behind every good thing I can remember happening there. He was a true champion of actions to improve the quality of life.
Believe me, Naples needed the improvements he spearheaded. He was out to take care of his sailors and their families - everything from government-quarters improvements to better medical services. He made improvements happen.
Since I was stationed at the American Forces Network, I dealt with Admiral Boorda regularly. He always had time for us to interview him on breaking news concerning Bosnia, quality of life or any local charity or project with which he was affiliated. I know he was a very busy man, but he never acted too important or too busy to respond to others.
Whenever I went to his office for a news shoot, he always told us to take our time setting up. While we were doing so, he'd ask how things were going; he'd joke around. I remember one time he asked me if he could give the video camera a try. The next thing I know, an admiral is playing cameraman while I conduct an interview with the president of the Allied Officer Wives' Club. That's just the type of guy he was.
It pains me that he took his life over questions regarding the allegedly unauthorized decorations he wore at one time. I believe his fellow sailors would've stood behind him and not have let this episode turn into another Navy scandal. I also believe that Admiral Boorda wouldn't have put those medals on if he didn't truly think could properly do so.
I now know how America felt when President Kennedy was killed. I can't speak for everybody, but as far as my family is concerned, his death had the same effect on us. America and the Navy lost a very good man, and the Navy's enlisted community lost it's loudest spokesperson. He will be missed.
MIKE RANEY
Virginia Beach, May 17, 1996 by CNB