Choppy Waters

AS MUCH AS THE U.S. NAVY MAY WANT THE SCANDAL to sink to the bottom of public consciousness, Tailhook keeps resurfacing. The now infamous convention last September of the Tailhook Association, an organization of Navy and Marine aviators, where at least 26 women were sexually molested by servicemen, bobbed up again last week. After months of criticism, Navy Secretary H. Lawrence < Garrett III finally resigned, accepting "full responsibility" for management of the Tailhook incident.

Garrett's announcement came two days after Navy Lieut. Paula Coughlin, a veteran helicopter pilot, publicly described her experience at the gathering. Coughlin came forward because she was frustrated by her superiors' foot- dragging response after they'd been told of the assault. Two internal Navy investigations and 1,500 interviews turned up only two suspected culprits. Not until two weeks ago did Garrett ask the Pentagon's inspector general to investigate the case.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has pushed the issue ahead by delaying the promotions of more than 4,000 officers, including the commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, insisting that the Pentagon clarify whether any were involved in the affair.