Regarding the June 21 article “A victory as Army mounts anti-suicide campaign”: Kudos to Spc. Albert Godding for saving the life of his buddy Spc. Joseph Sanders by removing the firing pin of his weapon. It is and was the right thing to do to save his battle buddy.

But the article also said: “Godding, now stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., and Sanders, at Fort Polk, La., told their story in telephone interviews after Godding received the Meritorious Service Medal for saving Sanders’ life.” I want to believe that the award of an MSM (which is approved at the two-star level) was for sustained service in his unit during time of war and not for doing what we hope all soldiers should do.

Col. Brian Boyle

Heidelberg, Germany

Obama’s links to yacht story

Overshadowed by the attention given BP CEO Tony Hayward’s recent yacht race was President Barack Obama’s round of golf the same day. Flip the page in the newspaper and there he was at a baseball game the night before.

In fact, I read that Obama has played 38 rounds of golf since he became president. Throw in the party nights with Paul McCartney and Bono and date night with first lady Michelle at taxpayer expense, and I’d say Hayward probably thought it was OK to go sailing. Especially considering that Hayward had been relieved of leading the day-to-day oil-spill-cleanup efforts.

It’s disgraceful of both of them. And hypocritical.

Christopher Chilton

Sasebo Naval Base, Japan

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