This article was originally published in December 2007.
(SALEM Ore.) - CBS Sixty Minutes recently carried a story about homosexuality in the Army. The Army system of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is and was, a failure from the start.
In WWII, my war, we had some, and if they wanted to get out all they had to do was to go to their commanding officer and tell him, "Sir, I am queer".
This didn't always work. A guy in my infantry company tried to get out and avoid possible overseas battle service. The Captain told him, "We'll discuss it when we get to France". I saw many eight balls in the Army. How many actually got out, who knows?
In an infantry division, less than one quarter were front line fighters. Many were reluctant fighters. They would goof-off any way they could - even disclosing their homosexuality. However, who wants to get killed?
About 70% of total killed or wounded were front line infantrymen. Some rifle company men were replaced 200 to 300 percent.
I'm stating this to indicate that an infantry division is a very dangerous place to be and it was the front line 'dogface' infantryman who suffered the most.
Every rifle company was short on front line soldiers forever after the first day of combat. When we heard that self-proclaimed "homosexuals" were getting out, I heard one guy say "I wouldn't care if the homo was syphlitic and half blind, as long as he could shoot at the form of an attacking kraut."
This brings me to a personal relative matter. Two of my six section mates on an observation post were captured and held for six weeks. They got to go home on the first boat.
I visited them after the war and one former combat buddy named Ed H. said to me, "Leveque, would you have a cigarette with us before we go home?"
"Hell yes, but why?" I responded.
He went on to question me, saying my war buddies always thought I was a homosexual. I got a laugh when he said, "We thought you were queer because you didn't smoke!"
I replied, "Ed, I thought you were queer because you did."
I don't think my guys thought any less of me when they believed that I was queer.
As far as I'm concerned, I knew people that were before I went into the Army, during my time, and in my medical practice.
The Armed Services has forcibly discharged 12 thousand homosexuals in the past ten years. How many were faking it, who knows?
About 10% of men and women are homosexual. If they want to join the service, let them. There are probably thousands of them still in the service, "in the closet" or not. I say leave them alone.
Army Homosexuals: Let Them Serve
Salem-News.com