CHRIS WILLS (1935-A/LIFE-1991) wrote, “I received KTB #178 today and read the story with interest of USS KENNEDY. Everything about the article brought home vivid memories of the dangers and everyday life aboard a carrier. I lived that life myself in the 1970’s, serving on three different carriers and made three cruises in three years. nothing in the story was different than what I experienced almost 30 years ago.

For instance, guys getting blown off the flight deck – I myself was almost one of those individuals on USS ORISKANY when an F-8 leveled six of us and blew us in the lifelines by the island. Thanks God for those lifelines or all six of us would have went overboard!

The only difference I experienced back then to the article about USS KENNEDY is the fact that women are now serving on combat ships. I’m sorry ladies, but women do not belong on combat ships! Call me old fashioned, but with a mixed crew of men and women on a ship together is bad news for obvious reasons. Boys will be boys –- how much hanky panky is going on out at sea? Probably more than anyone cares to admit. I can’t imagine how much distraction, especially when working on a very dangerous flight deck, this causes. I’m not saying that women can’t do the same job as a man –- just that men and women on the same ship is a bad mix. Just my input.”

EDITOR NOTE –- USS ENTERPRISE was the first carrier to try mixed crews. When they returned to port, some 60 of the young women were pregnant –- some were married. The ship was dubbed “the Love Boat” for obvious reasons.