Sorry, Charlite, but I can't find this article anywhere on the web. News searches and general searches don't bring it up. I also checked Snopes to see if it's an urban legend, but they have no data on it one way or the other. I'd love to see an original myself...
This is the truth no matter who wrote it. Is there even
a real Admiral Van Orden?
Doc,
I found a reference to Dick Van Orden at the link below. Although it doesn't confirm he wrote the above piece, it does establish him as a real person. I'll let you know if I find out anything else.
http://usna.com/News_Pubs/Publications/Shipmate/2000/2000_11/return.htm