A Pillow for the Feathers

A Reserve Takes Up the Case for the Defense

By R.P. Black
Our Navy, May, 1942

June, 2005

This is a short bit in defense of the so-called "Feather Merchants" and V-6's. In reading OUR NAVY ever since I joined the Reserves, I have enjoyed it very much, especially the letters from fellows in the service as Regulars. To them, my hat is off and more power to them, but I, and a lot of other Feathers who are in the same boat, would appreciate a little more shipmate-like attitude from them. After all, I think if they were in our places and the war had started as it did, they would have done the same as we did--joined!

Take, for example, my case. When war broke out, I had completed two years and three months of business college. When the United States got such a dirty deal in December, I wanted to do what I could. I had never especially cared for duty in the Army (I am only twenty, so I wasn't worried about the draft), but have always, just as any other kid, liked the Navy. So I ups and joins. I came in the Navy with the rating of yeoman, third class.

I didn't love "boot ,training"--neither did any of the Regulars I have talked to. When I left Norfolk--and I think all Regulars know what and where Norfolk is--I was transferred to New York--a Navy man's paradise on liberty--for further transfer to a hospital ship. It is good duty, and the fellows--both Regulars and others--are as good a group of sailors as ever assembled on any one ship. They are 4.0, but the ones I am writing about are the "misguided sailors" and the others who condemn us in your columns. I'll bet if I could talk to any one of them for just five minutes, I could convince him of what I am talking about.

I am not blaming them for their opinion. We all have our own and if their opinion doesn't happen to coincide with mine, then it is my duty to convince them--or up to them to convince me. If they would only consider our side of the matter conscientiously, that is all we would ask of them, in order to come to a fair decision and conclusion.

What machinist's mate, in business for himself out in the business world, would have given up his training and experience to come in as an apprentice seaman? Or the stenographers, carpenters, druggists, electricians, and the many other branches of civilian activity represented by various ratings in the Navy; how many of them would have done likewise?

I leave you to consider the answers. I have a pretty good idea myself of what they are. I have to admit, though. that there are a lot of guys who call themselves "Reserves" who don't rate the capital F in the word "Feathers." I agree with the musicians (letter in their behalf from Peggy Jeanne Green, page 65) in your Mid-April issue, with the Machinist in the First of March issue (page 54) that there are fellows in the Navy coming in with ratings that fill up the quota the regulars have been sweating to gain. There should be something done about this condition. The other day I was talking to the regular yeomen here in the office and here is a suggestion made during the course of conversation: Enlist all fellows coming in with the expectation of a rating as seamen. Give them preliminary exams or something that would serve the same ends to classify them. This would at east separate the good from the bad. Then give the "rate-expecters" a chance to prove their ability by actual work. Of course, this would prove a lengthy experiment, but then that is what finally comes of experimentation--results! How does this sound to you? Do you think it would work?

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