THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
When I read Frank O. Strailman's letter (``Nation's military should be all male,'' Dec. 15), I kept waiting for the ``gotcha'' where he admitted he was writing tongue-in-cheek but, alas, I think he was actually serious. Mr. Strailman didn't mention the military service which has made him such an expert on the subject; however, I will mention mine. I served 4 1/2 years as an officer in the Navy with one tour in Washington, D.C., and one tour on USS Butte (AE 27); and, yes, I am a woman, although not the ``tattooed lesbian-feminist'' of Mr. Strailman's fantasies.
Let me now convey the ``true picture of what is going on `inside' our armed forces.'' Talented, dedicated, qualified people of both sexes and all minorities are proudly serving this country to guarantee that all Americans continue to enjoy their rights, including the freedom of speech, even when that speech is insulting to those very people who guarantee it.
I was always promoted on merit, not ``simply to present an appearance of successful assimilation into the fighting forces.'' I never had any difficulty getting ``accomplished warriors'' to follow me or obey my orders. Furthermore, anyone who thinks a ship's commanding officer is simply a politician has never served on a ship and experienced the power the CO has over his crew. Anyone who thinks my CO gave me anything because I'm female is delusional.
In my first meeting with my CO, he informed he that he (not unlike Mr. Strailman, I suppose) didn't believe women should serve on combat logisitics-force ships, and he watched me like a hawk, waiting for any chance to prove he was right. He wasn't, so he didn't get his chance, and although he never said in words that he finally agreed that a female officer can be as good as, or better than, a male officer - it all depends on the individual - he said it in actions. You see, this same CO designated me his officer of the deck for general quarters, obviously trusting me to lead his ship into battle, and his favorite compliment for me was that I would stand up to anybody.
Living in the greatest democratic country in the world carries with it not only the responsibility but also the right for qualified citizens to defend it. I'm proud to have served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, and I'll put my record up against anybody's. I didn't ask for special treatment, and I didn't receive it. I wasn't liked by everyone, but I wasn't asking to be liked. I can assure you, however, that my orders were carried out, not because I'm a woman and not in spite of the fact that I'm a woman but because I was an officer who wouldn't tolerate my orders not being carried out.
As for Mr. Strailman's statement that ``a tough man focused on protecting `mom and the kids' is far more fierce in battle,'' apparently he never learned that a female protecting her young is one of the fiercest warriors in nature, and I can guarantee that anyone who cherishes freedom as much as I do would die protecting it.
PAMELA L. GREGG
Virginia Beach, Dec. 21, 1995 by CNB