To the editor:

Since the Army and the Marines now allow women in their ranks, but women are not yet allowed into combat, the only logical deduction from General Vessey’s very public statement is that gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military to the same extent that women currently are.

In other words, if sexuality on the battlefield is the worry, then gays can safely serve, as women do, in all non-battlefield positions.

This preserves the so-called monasticism of the infantry while allowing gays to demonstrate their competence to serve their country.

This simple solution puts the current brouhaha to rest.

Jessea Greenman

Resident

Oakland, Calif.