Gays in Military

* A Dec. 16 letter states, “Jumping into a foxhole with a gay is not something most young heterosexual males want to experience.” In my 23 years of active duty in the military, beginning when I was 18 years old, I would not have hesitated even for a moment to “jump into a foxhole” with a known gay soldier or, for that matter, get into a cockpit or a tank with, or perform any other military duty required of me.

In fact, I would not have hesitated to “jump in with” a black, a Latino, an Asian or a female--or anyone else wearing a U.S. uniform. All I would have looked for was the American flag on his or her uniform. That flag would have let me know most positively that I and my fellow “soldier” were prepared to fight to the death for each other’s life and “to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States,” an oath we both took.

HOBART J. CRUSENBERRY

Capt., USAF Ret.

Rancho Palos Verdes