Adm. Boorda

* Re “Navy’s Top Admiral Dies in Apparent Suicide Shooting,” May 17: It’s a damn shame the media must focus on an unimportant and trivial matter that can and did ruin a person’s life and career.

I am a decorated combat veteran of the Korean War; I served and fought there during 1950-1951. I in no way feel that Adm. Jeremy Michael Boorda’s wearing of the Vietnam combat ribbon lessened his abilities to lead or diminished his accomplishments.

Perhaps he wore the ribbons because he was proud of the men and women of the Navy who served their country during the Vietnam conflict. What’s wrong with that? Was the infraction of the rules of such importance to investigate and report on? I think not!

Can the reporters who uncovered this bit of trivia stand such scrutiny in their own lives? Newsweek should be ashamed.

GEORGE W. RANDALL

Marina del Rey

* The tragic death of Boorda, the first enlisted man to become chief of naval operations, makes me think of a subject that has been gnawing on my mind for some time.

I was a medical officer in an infantry regiment (307th Regiment of the 77th Infantry Division) for four years during World War II. Since then the number of medal ribbons seen on our service people in “Venetian blinds” has increased greatly.

Near the end of WWII a combat infantry badge appeared and was awarded to Army servicemen who participated in warfare. This practically limited it to infantry people. I can hardly believe how often I see it on dress uniforms of actual and fictional servicemen on television.

As I recall, many transient personnel (usually officers) from higher echelons visited our regiment in combat, in order to qualify for this badge. There is also a combat medical badge, which is awarded to medics in combat, but it has fallen into obscurity.

Perhaps it is time to reevaluate the requirements for award of such decorations; they are not just window dressing. It is too bad that vanity apparently caused us to lose such a splendid officer as Boorda.

SOLOMON H. STATMAN MD

Long Beach

* Alas, can it be that the endless march of the ageless rite of bestowing military decorations has unceremoniously arrived at parade rest?

FRANK L. BURKE

Los Angeles