In 1813, the British navy imposed a blockade of Boston Harbor. The War of 1812 had been raging for over a year and American forces were eager to break the blockade. James Lawrence, the commander of the Chesapeake, took at a run at the HMS (His Majesty’s Ship) Shannon and engaged her in battle. The Chesapeake took the worst of the fire, and as cannon and grape shot raked the deck, Lawrence was hit. As he lay dying, he gave one last command to his men — “Don’t give up the ship.”
I am reminded of what Admiral James Stockdale said:
“You must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties—and at the same time, have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be.”
One of your best columns ever, from historical context to contemporary analysis to practical applications. Thanks for your clarity and insight about how to make a difference when so much is at stake.
You are a breath of fresh air in this smog of disinformation that we are experiencing. It is my hope that powerful thinkers like you will help those of us trapped in the mire of despair and disillusionment find our way to what has to be a better future! God bless you for all you do!
I along with 100 officers and 1000 men had the privilege of serving aboard the USS Long Beach. She was a one of a kind vessel, a test bed. Her construction began as a DLG class, but they upgraded her to cruiser class and tacked on another hundred feet. She originally had only anti-aircraft missiles. When President John Kennedy examined her, he said that no naval vessel should be without guns. So a 5 inch 38 caliber gun was added a midships port and starboard.
We had brand new electronic counter measures equipment that we tested in the Gulf of Tonkin.
We have the scan far planer array, forerunner of aegis system.
We had torpedo tube launchers port and starboard. Three torpedoes each launcher.
We had ASROC a midships.
Originally, we were to have six Minuteman missiles of midships. Those were never put in.
As for our anti-aircraft missiles, we had two medium range Terrier missiles, launchers forward and a single long range Talos missiles,launcher aft.
Our propulsion was on two shafts of nuclear power.
My two years on Long Beach was spent 16 feet below the water line in the combat information center. Our involvement in Vietnam began with a supposed PT boat attack on two of our destroyers. This attack was never proven.
The goal of everyone in CIC was the shoot down a MiG. The first year went by uneventfully because the rules of engagement for beta us to shoot until MiG approached the shoreline. One day we went to General quarters because of a PT boat threat. In my section of CIC, we had 11 stations for detection, identification, and tracking. As the ship turned and headed south word towards gunships for protection, our supervisor got us onto the intercom And beat us remain at our post. Don’t worry we have a job to do not one person budged we knew we had a job to do and if we were to die 16 feet below the water line so be it. The primary function of Long Beach was to guard our aircraft as they went on bombing missions.
The second year, the MiGs were more active, but stayed away from the gulf. We finally got permission to shoot. We knocked out two MiGs with one missile because the wing man was flying too close to the primary target. That made Long Beach the first ship in history to knock down an enemy aircraft with a missile.
Every shipmate that I was acquainted with loved our ship and would never give her up
Thank you for the encouraging analysis. I tend to rewatch "1776" when I need to renew my commitment to this country, and then I'll rewatch "The Adams Chronicles" for the context it lived in, and still does.
Such a well written and appropriate story for these times! Thank you. I so appreciate your sharing the ways you are finding to stay engaged without being overwhelmed by what appears to be a routing of our democratic republic. I hold to the idea this scheme only works if We the People let it.
Our system of justice has been misused in recent years to target political opponents - big and small. Overtly partisan judges and prosecutors have done great damage to public faith in the system generally. It’s good that you now speak up about the importance of the rule of law, even if your perception of the problem is a bit one sided.
You think that’s new and one sided because of your political bias. This isn’t a recent phenomenon and has been used by both parties. The guard rail has been that targeting does not necessarily lead to trial unless there’s credible evidence. When none is discovered against those opposite your political slant, I’m sure you disbelieve the honesty of the investigation. When it does lead to trial against targets on your side of the aisle because credible evidence is uncovered, it’s a “weaponized liberal judiciary.” Perhaps you should become more aware of your biases rather than impugning Dr. Chervinsky for those you perceive she possesses. In following her work, I’m certain she puts considerable effort into evaluating the impact of her personal biases on everything she writes.
Thanks for trying to compartmentalize the raw, eviscerating emotions that are running rampant through my mind especially after Zelensky was so horribly treated by Trump and Vance the other day. He too is not giving up the ship and selling out his people to Putin’s lackeys!
Great job, Lindsay! Keep fighting and I will, too!
I am reminded of what Admiral James Stockdale said:
“You must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties—and at the same time, have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be.”
Love this, thank you!
One of your best columns ever, from historical context to contemporary analysis to practical applications. Thanks for your clarity and insight about how to make a difference when so much is at stake.
Thank you! I appreciate it very much.
You are a breath of fresh air in this smog of disinformation that we are experiencing. It is my hope that powerful thinkers like you will help those of us trapped in the mire of despair and disillusionment find our way to what has to be a better future! God bless you for all you do!
Dr. Chervinsky
I along with 100 officers and 1000 men had the privilege of serving aboard the USS Long Beach. She was a one of a kind vessel, a test bed. Her construction began as a DLG class, but they upgraded her to cruiser class and tacked on another hundred feet. She originally had only anti-aircraft missiles. When President John Kennedy examined her, he said that no naval vessel should be without guns. So a 5 inch 38 caliber gun was added a midships port and starboard.
We had brand new electronic counter measures equipment that we tested in the Gulf of Tonkin.
We have the scan far planer array, forerunner of aegis system.
We had torpedo tube launchers port and starboard. Three torpedoes each launcher.
We had ASROC a midships.
Originally, we were to have six Minuteman missiles of midships. Those were never put in.
As for our anti-aircraft missiles, we had two medium range Terrier missiles, launchers forward and a single long range Talos missiles,launcher aft.
Our propulsion was on two shafts of nuclear power.
My two years on Long Beach was spent 16 feet below the water line in the combat information center. Our involvement in Vietnam began with a supposed PT boat attack on two of our destroyers. This attack was never proven.
The goal of everyone in CIC was the shoot down a MiG. The first year went by uneventfully because the rules of engagement for beta us to shoot until MiG approached the shoreline. One day we went to General quarters because of a PT boat threat. In my section of CIC, we had 11 stations for detection, identification, and tracking. As the ship turned and headed south word towards gunships for protection, our supervisor got us onto the intercom And beat us remain at our post. Don’t worry we have a job to do not one person budged we knew we had a job to do and if we were to die 16 feet below the water line so be it. The primary function of Long Beach was to guard our aircraft as they went on bombing missions.
The second year, the MiGs were more active, but stayed away from the gulf. We finally got permission to shoot. We knocked out two MiGs with one missile because the wing man was flying too close to the primary target. That made Long Beach the first ship in history to knock down an enemy aircraft with a missile.
Every shipmate that I was acquainted with loved our ship and would never give her up
Ah! This is what I call "Applied History"!
Thank you for the encouraging analysis. I tend to rewatch "1776" when I need to renew my commitment to this country, and then I'll rewatch "The Adams Chronicles" for the context it lived in, and still does.
Such a well written and appropriate story for these times! Thank you. I so appreciate your sharing the ways you are finding to stay engaged without being overwhelmed by what appears to be a routing of our democratic republic. I hold to the idea this scheme only works if We the People let it.
Thank you for your wise words. And thanks for your books. They brought me some better perspective on the past, and our present.
Our system of justice has been misused in recent years to target political opponents - big and small. Overtly partisan judges and prosecutors have done great damage to public faith in the system generally. It’s good that you now speak up about the importance of the rule of law, even if your perception of the problem is a bit one sided.
You think that’s new and one sided because of your political bias. This isn’t a recent phenomenon and has been used by both parties. The guard rail has been that targeting does not necessarily lead to trial unless there’s credible evidence. When none is discovered against those opposite your political slant, I’m sure you disbelieve the honesty of the investigation. When it does lead to trial against targets on your side of the aisle because credible evidence is uncovered, it’s a “weaponized liberal judiciary.” Perhaps you should become more aware of your biases rather than impugning Dr. Chervinsky for those you perceive she possesses. In following her work, I’m certain she puts considerable effort into evaluating the impact of her personal biases on everything she writes.
Thanks for trying to compartmentalize the raw, eviscerating emotions that are running rampant through my mind especially after Zelensky was so horribly treated by Trump and Vance the other day. He too is not giving up the ship and selling out his people to Putin’s lackeys!