In mid March 1952, on a gorgeous morning with the sun breaching
the horizon, my troop ship brought a ship load of us, Marines, back
from Korea and under the Golden Gate Bridge with the Four Aces
singing
”
Tell Me Why
”
on the loud speaker.
In mid March 1952, on a gorgeous morning with the sun breaching the horizon, my troop ship brought a ship load of us, Marines, back from Korea and under the Golden Gate Bridge with the Four Aces singing “Tell Me Why” on the loud speaker.
In a letter from Oklahoma, my mother had given me the information to contact a cousin in San Francisco. I no longer remember how I got from Treasure Island to his apartment, but I did. Billie Pat welcomed me in (now, he preferred Patrick). This cousin was quite brilliant, was a concert pianist, taught mathematics at the University of Texas, then came to San Francisco, apparently as an executive for a national record company. He was never in the military service in World War II, and I often wondered why.
Additionally, I met his friend, John, who shared the apartment. They were very welcoming, prepared dinner, and at the end of the day, took me back to Treasure Island. John drove us in his car. I was surprised and pleased that I didn’t have to find transportation. But, more than surprised when we approached the Main Gate and the guards saluted and motioned us through. I was taken to my barracks by John, a Reserve Navy Lt. Commander.
Years later, my mother would come to visit and we always had to go visit Patrick. She had taken care of him when he was a child and had a special affection for him.
By the 1980s, Patrick and John owned a beautiful Marin home overlooking San Francisco Bay. They shared a bedroom and when my mother came to visit, she slept in their guest bedroom.
Patrick may have been one of the most intelligent conversationalists to whom I have ever spoken. Of course, Patrick and John’s relationship was never revealed. And, the two are now deceased. Nowadays, the term “gay” would be the appropriate description.
Obviously, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” although not defined back then, worked for John.
However, I maintain the practice of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should not be abolished.
It was my experience in combat that the nervousness of the troops is directly related to his time in the field. Generally, the less time in the field, the more nervous. This trauma manifests itself in increased frequency of bodily functions.
On patrol or in the attack, everyone must relieve himself, but the newer the person, the more frequent. Korea was hilly and mountainous with endless trails on the ridgeline.
Normally the combat team moved along the trails single file with members jumping out to relieve themselves, then jumping back in Hill. The real problem that slowed the advance would occur if too many required this necessity.
Although Afghanistan is a different terrain, I imagine that the troops are emotionally no different.
Bodily functions alone among the obvious reasons are basic to why “homosexuals” are unsuited for combat. There is no privacy in war. It is natural survival, even barbaric.
And love liaisons would be disastrous. Each man needs to rely on his buddies and he needs everyone’s attention. What must not be condoned is two lovers (heterosexual or homosexual) with their own agenda.
No privacy in combat; no civility in combat! Combat is primitive man. Combat is back to basics – survival of the fittest.
Of course, the armed forces are not always in combat. So, where is a heterosexual’s right to privacy?
In the military, it is quite common for many persons to be in a communal shower at the same time.
It is quite common for service members to undress and dress in barracks in front of many people. Do we go to the expense of providing special barracks for lesbians and gays?
Lt. Col. Oliver North, USMC (Ret.) says, “The Commander-in-Chief apparently wants us to ignore that it’s not love of country that’s the problem. Simply put, a warrior’s ethos (customs and character) is incompatible with illicit, same-sex Eros (love) in the ranks. It’s not “who they are; it’s what they do.”
Openly gay and lesbian in the military is not a good idea. Write your senators and your state representatives about this issue and protect our soldier’s, marine’s, airmen’s and sailor’s right to some protection.
Again, “It’s not who they are; it’s what they do.”
Burton Anderson is a Purple Heart Korean War Marine, a junior college instructor, spent 32 years in the aerospace industry, and retired from contract negotiation in 1992. He can be reached at ba****@*ol.com.
