Interesting note, indeed. In '70, I enlisted in the Navy. While in Boot Camp, they offered me E-3 rank if I would sign up for two more years (I'd already committed to four).

After a year aboard ship, I was offered a spot at Officer Candidate School, if I'd sign-up for life, basically.

I declined both offers. I hated the Vietnam War, where my ship took me five --FIVE -- times. I was discarged in '74 at the rank of E-4.

And that was during a period when racism was rampant in the Navy. No women were even allowed onboard ship back then. In today's Navy, it's hard to imagine the military without women onboard ships or on the battlefield.

Babbitt must have, as you hint at, really "fucked up."