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Letters

Don’t panic

I enjoyed reading Ken Perrotte’s “Prepare for the worst” article in the Dec. 29 issue. If there’s a little more room in his survival bag, I’d suggest adding a couple more items, foremost, a towel.

Writer Douglas Adams may have had his tongue in his cheek when he extolled the many uses of towels in “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” but I have used a towel as a bandage for myself, and later as a pillow for someone else, in an emergency situation. You can use it as a blanket. You can cut it up into multiple bandages. In a pinch, you can dry yourself with it.

The other item is a roll of toilet paper. The comfort it provides in an extended survival scenario means one less stressor. You can also use it to stop bleeding from small cuts or as a sponge to collect water.

Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Bohn

Hurlburt Field, Fla.

No appointment necessary

Let me give you a little intel with regards to the article “Missed appointments prove costly for VA,” I read in the Dec. 22 issue.

While in the Veterans Administration hospital, I was given an appointment for a chest X-ray. The X-ray was conducted, yet I was called continuously for two weeks after, to remind me of the appointment to do the X-ray. I even went so far as to call the lab to ensure they canceled this bogus entry, but later I was informed that I missed this appointment.

I have many other similar examples. It’s gotten so bad that I don’t even bother trying to call an actual person to square it away, because it never does, and it only makes me more frustrated.

It’s pretty much a joke. When I saw the article about them now whining over missed appointments and the cost, well, I take exception.

Master Sgt. Frederick C. Montney III (ret.)

Newark, Del.

Repeal ‘Don’t ask’

The statements of the officials opposing the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” [“Troops oppose repeal of ‘don’t ask’,” Jan. 5] are outdated and out of touch.

Elaine Donnelly’s warning of cohabitation shows a lack of understanding for the current military situation. Heterosexuals are already cohabitating with homosexual service members, both downrange and at home. While this is not without incident, little can be done until the current policy is repealed and leaders can begin their efforts to prevent these occurrences. Donnelly’s opposition to gay and lesbian soldiers is an insult to all these brave men and women who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces, often in silence.

Additionally, Army Capt. Steven J. Lacy’s comments are an echo of the played-out argument that officials have been pushing since this policy began. It is an argument that has outlived its accuracy. Everyday, more and more troops return from global deployments, during which many have served beside service members that they knew were homosexual.

Many of our allies allow openly homosexual service members, who serve alongside our troops. Even our civilian counterparts, serving in Department of the Army and defense contract positions, are allowed to serve openly. As a leader, I would rather my troops be honest and open about their personal lives, than forced into silence or deceit by policy. In a close-knit military unit, there is no such thing as leaving your personal life at home. Because gay and lesbian soldiers are forced to remain silent about their home life, this outdated policy too often conflicts with the military value of integrity.

Army Sgt. Anthony W. Moll

Columbia, Md.

Change disability rules

Sometimes I think there is a digressive unit within the Pentagon charged with dreaming up regulations designed to aggravate our military forces and veterans.

In March, the Pentagon issued a change in regulations significantly narrowing the definition of combat disabilities. The Pentagon stated that disability benefits should be higher for military personnel wounded in combat versus those injured in noncombat situations.

Two recent cases point out the absurdity of the new regulation. Sgt. Lori Meshell suffered a shattered hip and back injuries while diving for cover during a mortar attack in Iraq. Since she was not hit by shrapnel, the Pentagon ruled her injuries were not combat related, and she was not entitled to about $1,200 per month in benefits. Cpl. James Dixon experienced a traumatic brain injury, a concussion, a dislocated hip and hearing loss from roadside bomb and mine explosions in Iraq and his case was ruled noncombat-related. This information is based on a Nov. 27 article in the Boston Globe.

This regulation has to be changed to classify all injuries experienced by military personnel in war zones as combat related.

Former Navy Lt. Donald A. Moskowitz

Londonderry, N.H.

Support gun ownership

The Defense and Homeland Security departments, along with civilian law enforcement agencies, must be the front line in preventing attacks such as those in India.

However, I am struck by the failure to recognize the important role individual citizens could play in reacting to such attacks. Many states have liberalized their concealed-weapons laws and have seen a decrease in violent crime rates. Individual citizens who have chosen to legally carry a concealed weapon could, in many circumstances, thwart attacks by thugs.

India has essentially disarmed its citizens. As a result, a city was held hostage by 10 armed criminals who slaughtered unarmed victims at will.

Air Force Col. Michael R. Gallagher (ret.)

Hillsboro, Ore.