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cabby27: As a former navy enlisted man the whole "value system" of the navy is disgusting. The navy is a messed up service. They have promoted the wrong ideals for so long it's probably too late to change.

Billzebub: Who cares. Let them sailor boys do whatever they want.

marcs: It's a sad commentary on the military (and I'm a retired military officer). But maybe he felt he had no other choice, given the way our media handles situations such as his actions vis-a-vis the medals. We will never know what was going through his mind.

mszippy: It's the same thing all brain-washing organizations do. It makes the person do whatever it takes to get to a higher level to achieve a higher level of authority and then to have the "label" to show it off...people tend to work hard under this type of incentive program. All cults work this way...I think it takes away the person's own ideas and encourages them to follow the pack, for the recognition. It's a way of 'controlling' people. Boorda had such a high position in the hierarchy that it was a public humiliation at that point, even if he had been wearing the medals thinking they were legitimate.

Dickj: The United States military is a vast system of 'good old boys'with a twisted set of values. There are few groups capable of mirroring the negative aspects of society as well as well as leaders trained at military academys. In a society where everyone dresses alike, walks alike, talks the same language -- the system of class separation is accomplished through the wearing of combat medals, ribbons, stripes and insignia. It has always been considered a courts-martial offense to wear unearned medals, rank, or insignia due to it's importance. Military individuals who know and understand the system and the prejudice -- fear the very thought of retribution. But the misguided ego's of these so-called-leaders is so great that most will run the gauntlet of ridicule. The military system is broken and sends all the wrong messages to those who pick up the arms to protect the nation. It eventually leads to two types of individual. Those officers like me who bitterly end 11 year military careers when the truth is learned -- or the white, male, dominated welfare bastion for mentally crippled hangers-on.

ethan: I'm wondering if this isn't the wrong question - I wonder what it says about the American media that Newsweek quotes one of its own correspondants as saying, "he [Boorda] might just put a gun to his head" if the story were published. I dunno - something about that statement makes me wonder if we (or the media) have become so scandal-hungry that we're perpetually in search of the news story that will destroy someone's life.

radioman: Words are what men die for, and tradition and valor are not things easyly won. If you dont understand what the admiral did, then all the expanations in the world will not help. If you do, then none is necessary. Michael Clinton [email protected]

straay: According to a Navy Officer friend, the skuttlebutt is that the medal thing was just a coverup for something else, perhaps more personal and sordid. He didn't think any officer would kill himself over the kind of medal misuse/misunderstanding reported in the Boorda case. But that's just the word going around.

Persuter: I have one thing to say. Is it actually a surprise that we have a mentally ill Admiral in the Navy? Is this news to anyone?

BlackSword: First, if you have not earned a 'piece of tin' by having someone try and put a bullet in your butt, then try calling the "V" device what it is. It is an award for valor. You can disagree with the war, the politics behind it, the orders of those appointed over you, etc... But when someone earns a "V" by putting his/her ass in the line of fire, you don't argue. The admiral wore what he was not authorized to. After 21 years in the service I had yet to hear of someone pulling their own plug over something like this. I think that there was more muck to be raked up, and the admiral could not handle whatever the dark secret was.

Gadj: I think that Adm. Boorda thought he deserved his medals as he wore them and that it was the media's harping that brought his demise about. Although I think he may have had suicidal tendencies!

telarium: Hey, I think a medal is a valuable and honorable ribbon. But, you don't have to go killing yourself over it. Or do you?

cowick: The medals he wore were authorized -- Newsweek has blown the subject totally out of proportion. Admiral Boordas death is on the hands of Newsweek....

eanders: It's not foolish. The problem is that too much emphasis is placed on medals as a requirement for advancement in the military. Consequently, medals are sometimes awarded, not on merit but because someone wants to ensure a protegee gets ahead. Check around. Most of the senior military officers have either Bronze or Silver Stars to their credit. Granted, most were well deserved but you might want to look into the history of such awards during the Vietnam War era.

KMorrison: What do Naval customs have to do with it? A high-ranking official copped out when the going got tough. Let's hope our other leaders have more intestinal fortitude. Boorda's not a hero, he's a quitter.

sixgun: It is not a question of a small ribbon, it is what that ribbon, and Admr. Boorda's dishonesty stand for. First, it cheapens the value of those ribbons worn by those who actually earned the right to wear them. More importantly however, it violates the core rule of integrity. When you are on a ship or sub in combat, the lives of everyone on board can, and do depend on the many small, interconnected actions of EVERYONE on board, both at the present, and the preceding times such as maintenance on the ship's systems and weapons. You must be able to count on everyone honestly doing their jobs, really doing the maintenance check they profess to have done, etc. If you don't have that trust, you cannot know your ship is ready to fight. The CNO's small lies about ribbons violates that integrity, and for an officer of that level, the example he sets must be perfect. His was not. The values he violated, integrity and attention to detail, are at the core of a successful fleet and must be maintained for America's armed forces to be successful in combat and peace. Sixgun- Formerly an ET3 USN, now MIDN USNR

Colestock: I firmly believe that when someone decides to kill him/herself it is a decision that transcends any one event in one's life. If the medal fiasco had anything at all to do with the Admiral's suicide, it was only as a "straw that broke that camel's back." Sure he mentioned it in a suicide note of some kind but how can one sum up all of the negative experiences in one's life in a short note before dying? There's more to his story that we may never know about. And as to whether we should place so much importance on a bit of ribbon... Yes we should. We can't simply let people start making up fake diplomas from colleges, or desecrating our flag, or any of the like. These too are only cloth and paper but they symbolize something so much more than just that. So do the medals, I'm sure. People need to learn to stand on their merits, their real merits, not something they made up.

laraine: I think medals are a very important part of society and the military is no different. Winning a medal or award is self gratification and gives a sense of self pride. It also gives us something to work toward. I think it is very sad that some people wear medals that they have not earned, but that is their problem. They can not possibly feel the sense of pride one gets from earning one.

slovet: Don't blame the Navy on this one! Blame those fuckin stupid reporters. ADM Boorda was a great man. People don't understand exactly what happened. He wasn't wearing awards he didn't earn. He was awarded the Navy Achievement and Navy Commendation Medals for actions in combat...yes combat. He wore the "Combat "V"" emblem on these 2 awards. Some dip shit reporter who probably went to Canada during Vietnam questioned him on these, then made a big stink. Fuck him. This nation lost a great leader because of some news story. Well, I hope that reporter comes by and wants to interview me, he'll get his due.

eurpac: I spent 22 years with the Navy and enjoyed it but for someone to take their life over medals escapes me. I still am not satisfied that what we have been lead to believe is the truth. I think there is a cover up of sorts. Because knowing what I do about the military, his records could have been fixed to prove he deserved the stupid "V" that they would like us to believe caused him to take his life. Enough said!!!!!!!

rjlush: As a member of the Navy Reserve, it must be understood that the awards and medals achieved by members of the various armed forces are like visible signposts to others of their accomplishments while in the service. A member of the Navy would no more wear a medal or device that they didn't earn that someone outside the military would use M.D., Ph.D., or some other honor, INTENTIONALLY. The error made by Adm. Boorda was, to me, understandable and had probably a very small part to do with the tragedy that befell our nation and the Navy when he died. Much more was made of the mistake by the media than anyone in the service would ever make of it.

Timex: In the words of Hilary Rodham Clinton: "Confront problems, not people." Admiral Boorda's suicide was not a result of negligence on anyone's part, but more a reflection of our society's deformed values. Perhaps if Boorda had been more nurtured by society in his troubled childhood none of this would have ever happened. On the other hand, humans have an intrinsic need for recognition (the medals) and I don't think any of us can honestly deny our own desire for attention.