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Author
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Topic: How to address an astronaut?
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stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 02-25-2007 02:10 PM
   
This is a military protocol question: When speaking or writing to an astronaut who had served in the armed forces (most of the early ones, that is), is it permissible to address him as "Mr." or does one need to look up the rank at which he retired? |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-25-2007 02:42 PM
I always use the rank if they served in the armed forces. If they have a MD or PhD I address them as "Dr."Tim |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 02-25-2007 03:08 PM
Thank you for your help. I take it one adds "(Ret.)" so an envelope would look something like "Lt. Col. Bill Smith (Ret.)"? |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-25-2007 03:45 PM
If they are retired, the protocol is to reference their rank if they were of flag rank (general or admiral). For lower ranks, they are referred to by civilian titles like Mr., Ms, or Dr. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-26-2007 06:34 PM
While micropooz is correct, you could address "Lt Col. Bill Smith, USAF (ret) or whatever service branch he belonged to. Smith would accept it as your attempting to be polite, so no foul.Tim
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Sy Liebergot
Member Posts: 501
From: Pearland, Texas USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 02-26-2007 07:29 PM
I will be offended if you don't address me as "Sy." ;-))
Sy |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 02-26-2007 09:47 PM
I dunno, Sy, I prefer using all 28 letters in your name when addressing you.  I've always made it a point to use their military rank when writing [or use Mr, Mrs or Dr]. When meeting them in person, I use the same formality. You will be corrected if they prefer being addressed in a more informal manner. [I remember Walt Cunningham saying to me "Will you PLEASE stop calling me Mr. Cunningham?"] And Bill Dana is always Uncle Bill.
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ApolloAlex
Member Posts: 390
From: Yeovil, England
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 02-27-2007 03:53 AM
Hi Folks,I was just wondering if the invitation to call you "Sy" is extended to this weekend,as i am personally looking very much to meeting you and as Paul Simon sang you can call me Al,lol?  And when i write through the post to any astronaut at the moment,i address all as "Sir". Also on the same subject i met Jack Lousma a few years ago,to which i addressed him as "Mr.Lousma,Sir",he answered by saying "call me Jack please",i did and spent quarter of an hour chatting with him,great experiance. All the best,
Alex. ------------------
"Why dont you fix your little problem and light this Candle?" |
Sy Liebergot
Member Posts: 501
From: Pearland, Texas USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 02-27-2007 08:02 AM
Most definitely, yes.
Sy |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-27-2007 01:32 PM
Schirra once told me that a local state congressman passed something meaning he could technically be addressed as:
"The Honorable Wally Schirra"
- which has made for some amusing jokes! |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 02-27-2007 01:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
Schirra once told me that a local state congressman passed something meaning he could technically be addressed as:
"The Honorable Wally Schirra"
- which has made for some amusing jokes!
It would of course be entirely correct to address John Glenn, Jake Garn and Bill Nelson as "Hon.". In the same way as it would be to use the Italian form of it, Onorevole, for Umberto Guidoni and Franco Malerba. I wonder yet whether the Czech have a title for their Members of Parliament. And how about the Russians? Quite a few former cosmonauts have been sitting and are sitting in their respective Parliamentary bodies.
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Jürgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies
[Edited by eurospace (February 27, 2007).] |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-28-2007 12:01 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jürgen: It would of course be entirely correct to address John Glenn, Jake Garn and Bill Nelson as "Hon."
But can they also claim to be a High Potentate, Outershell Division, IAOT, as Schirra can? 
There's a title Schirra would love to get on his mail, I am sure... |
oldpara
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 02-28-2007 06:29 AM
I take it that AstroDude or AstroBabe wouldn't get a reply............ |
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