[Myrddin]

My dad retired as a Commander after 26 1/2 years. The last 7 were as XO of 32nd St Naval Station, San Diego. I listened to his reactions to what was happening in the Navy and decided that it would not be a suitable path. Dad's earliest expressions of dissatisfaction came as Zumwalt became CNO. The "Z grams" were an obvious source of irritation. Dad retired in September 1977. I had graduated from UCSD in June 1976. I certainly could have sought a Navy career as an officer, but opted against it. The affirmative action and political correctness was simply an unacceptable element. It went bad long before you retired.

[jimfree]

Oh my! Z-Grams. Yes, I remember that during my first tour as a personnel clerk (E3 through E5). All hands magazine paradized the Z-Gram. There was a cartoon of sailors in rank for inspection. The commander had walked up to a sailor wearing short pants, skivvy shirt, white hat, and medals. The comments penned below: “He says it’s Summer Dress X-Ray. We’d better check the message traffic.”