Marine air squadron abandons Crusaders nickname

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — A Beaufort Marine Corps air squadron is abandoning its recently adopted nickname of Crusaders.

The Beaufort Gazette (http://bit.ly/KWcsck ) reports that the deputy commander of Marine Corps aviation, Lt. Gen. Terry Robling, has ordered Fighter Attack Squadron 122 to return to using the Werewolves name.

The unit’s commander had announced earlier this year the squadron would again use Crusaders to honor the Crusader aircraft the unit originally flew. The squadron used that name from 1959 to 2008.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation objected, saying the Crusaders name could stir anti-American sentiment in the Middle East.

The Marine Corps said because of how the name is now perceived, Robling felt it best to return to the Werewolves name.

___

Information from: The Beaufort Gazette, http://www.beaufortgazette.com