Letters: Conversations Over Ice

Being the pilot who flew Stewart O'Nan out to Attu Island, I was impressed to see that he could capture the haunting feeling you get there ("Scratch the Island from the Map," November). He also, however, leaves one with the sense that I condemn the crew of the crashed Coast Guard C-130. I showed him the crash site not to point out the mistakes of others, but to emphasize yet another tragedy associated with the island. To me, Attu is about sacrifice: the Attuans, the Japanese, the Seventh Army, every year of a Coastie's life spent there, and sadly, the passengers and crew of that C-130.

I spent 11 months on Attu in 1946 and 1947 after the war, so O'Nan's article naturally interested me. Attu, as he suggests, was a tough place: Most of the time we wore foul-weather gear — even indoors — and kept oil heaters going continuously in the chilly huts. One night a 130-mile-an-hour windstorm blew the roofs off several, leaving the men to dash around in their undershorts seeking protection. It was quite an experience for us young guys.

Shipped Out

I confess that my husband and I were among the Crown Princess passengers tendered to Christmas Island and observed by Paul Theroux ("Merry Christmas Island," December). We stayed ashore as long as allowed, taking in the landscape, sea, and sky. It wasn't nearly long enough, but thanks to Theroux, I now know more of what I could only sense during our stay.

Market Crash

Concerning his infamous spill at the Olympics, skier Hermann Maier claims "there was an American photographer on the mountain. He didn't say, 'Hey, you all right?' He says, 'Hey, great picture!'" ("Thinking About Machine-Man," November). I was that photographer. After Maier flew by me at 65-plus miles per hour and landed 25 feet away, my first thought was his condition. I yelled, "Are you OK?" It was 20 minutes later that I said, "Great picture!" Maier, despite his statements, must agree: His agent has negotiated with me to use that image on all of his promotional materials.

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