Observations on Blacks in Military

It is too important to the memory of black Americans who have fought and died for our country for more than 300 years for me to write what I really feel about “Attention! Looking at Blacks in Military” (July 25) and particularly the references to Charles Moskos.

It is too important also to the possibility of a future America that can somehow become truly integrated.

Suffice to say that I surprise even myself when I find that I cannot agree with even one of Moskos’ six complex and intertwined reasons why the military is the only truly integrated institution in America.

Although I don’t know of any more nearly integrated U.S. institution than our armed forces, for Moskos or anyone else to argue that the military is truly integrated is preposterous.

Even in 1991:

* A marked drop-off in percentages of black officers occurs from junior to senior levels;

* A preponderance of serious disciplinary actions involving black servicemen takes place in the various regular services;

* Significant indicators of racism continue to be manifested throughout the reserve and national guard;

* The military history continues to be replete with omissions and/or distortions of what black fighting men (and some women) have contributed to the United States in every major war.

Moskos takes his usual position that the outstanding characteristics of today’s black service people and their contemporary competitive performance vis-a-vis their white contemporaries augur well for a future America.

What he fails to acknowledge (possibly because he may truly be ignorant of military history) is that the combat performance of black men (and some women) has been exemplary for more than 300 years.

DAVID K. CARLISLE

Los Angeles