A couple readers chime in:

Dear Mr. Goldberg,
Yes, this creep Massa is out of his gourd!
I spent 20 years as a commissioned officer in the Navy, all of it in carrier aviation (F-14s and FA-18s), and even though I did a “crossing the line ceremony” (crossing the Equator), apparently like Massa, we NEVER had gay-ish hijinks like he describes then, or at any other time.
Maybe he just remembers the old SNL skits with Michael Palin (of Monty Python) about “Miles Cowperthwaite” and his time on the HMS Raging Queen with Captain Ned.
All of the best and I am thoroughly enjoying Liberal Fascism. I’m now a US History teacher in high school, and your book is a GREAT resource.
Sincerely (and anonymity, please).

And:

Jonah,
I am retiring shortly after 21 years in the Navy and have never heard of “tickle fights”. I think if anyone above the third grade started a “tickle fight”, they are inviting the beating they are sure to receive.
This guy makes me ashamed of my Service and I wish there were a way to disassociate him from the Navy.
It’s also interesting to me that no reporter called him on this – there was a time when some reporter would have had military service or at least have been familiar enough with the military to know that this guy is full of it. Almost a virtual certainty that there’s more to this story.
About a third of the way through my second reading of Liberal Fascism. I am finding that I missed some things the first time around so I’m really enjoying it.
Hope all is well!