War

The comment from Karen Lindell (letter, Sept. 9), questioning “whether it is natural for anyone--female or male--to throw grenades, endure combat or kill another human being” cries out for response.

The reason that I, my husband, my brother, my father and my nephew chose careers in the United States armed forces was to permit the Lindells of this country to imagine an alternative universe where no one rapes, invades or pillages. I suspect that if her address were Sarajevo instead of Sierra Madre, Lindell might be writing in for the recipe for a Molotov cocktail.

LISALEE ANNE WELLS

Long Beach