The Foreign Service Journal, October 2008

Over 10,000 DC-3/C-47s were manufactured and many are still fly- ing. The C-46 served as a cargo air- craft during and after the war but, because only about 3,300 were built, just a few have survived into modern times. In contrast, the DC-3 became one of the all-time most successful aircraft, a tribute to Donald Douglas’ vision and ingenuity. That said, I again offer kudos to the author and the FSJ for a most enjoyable profile of Davies. Bruce Byers FSO, retired Reston, Va. Managing State Congratulations to John Naland on his July-August President’s Views col- umn setting forth work requirements for the new Secretary of State. It is an important contribution for the next administration. I wonder if someone is keeping an eye on the involvement, if any, of career officers —Foreign Service and Civil Service — in plans for manage- ment of foreign affairs in the new administration. Secretary of State Colin Powell was especially sensitive to the importance of career officers in managing State, and his effectiveness in policy implementation and re- source support was due in some mea- sure to the support of the profession- al staff. (The New York Times recent- ly did a piece on the foreign affairs advisers to the Obama campaign and there wasn’t a single career Foreign Service officer named, current or retired.) Hats off, as well, for publishing Bob Service and Dana Deree’s letters about Jack Service. The Bob Mc- Mahan review of M. Stanton Evans’ book was an unwelcome reminder of a tragic era. It happened that my own father (our families were in China together) — who knew and admired O C T O B E R 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 7 L E T T E R S u