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Military worth seen in acts

Thu., Jan. 6, 2011

Regarding Curtis Stone’s letter about gays serving in the military (Dec. 25), I feel I must respond.

I am a Vietnam combat veteran, having served as a medical evacuation pilot. At one of the field hospitals where I was stationed, one of the male nurses was gay. No one cared whether he was gay or not; what we cared about were the lives he saved, and I witnessed him save many.

Israel’s military, which is rated as one of the best, allows gays to serve openly in all military units, as do most Western nations. If Mr. Stone had researched his subject, he would have learned that gays have served in our military going back to the Revolutionary War. I thank them all for their service.

David Hodin

Loon Lake, Wash.

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