An Officer and a Gentle Mend

Re “Sky-High Traffic? He’s Got It All Under Control,” May 6:

The caption under the photo states: “Air traffic controller Brian Winget--once a merchant marine . . .”

As a former merchant seaman and master mariner of the U.S. Merchant Marine, I’d like to correct you. The general description is merchant seaman or, as in the case of Winget, the correct description would have been, “once a Merchant Marine officer.”

While on this corrective bent, you, from time to time, have used the phrase “U.S. Navy officer” with a picture of a petty officer. More correctly, the heading should be “Navy petty officer” or “Navy enlisted man” or, perhaps, “Navy enlisted person.” The designation of “officer” comes from the President and Congress.

KARL O. BERGHEER

Newport Beach