THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, December 26, 1995             TAG: 9512220012
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   48 lines

APOLOGY IS DUE MILITARY WOMEN

Frank O. Strailman's letter, ``Nation's military should be all male'' (Dec. 15) prompted my first letter to a newspaper in 20 years. He started with a discussion of what combat roles women should participate in, then quickly descended into hate literature. His idea of the ``true picture'' of women in the armed forces is light years from what I have observed in my 23 years of naval service.

I remember the hard feelings among my fellow 18-year-old male midshipmen when women joined our NROTC unit. Rather than being showered with favoritism, they sparked good-natured academic and professional competition. Many went on to full careers. One was promoted early to captain. I still keep in touch with several of my female flight-school classmates. Chances are they were captains of airliners that Mr. Strailman flew in.

As the officer in charge of a C-9 squadron mobilized for Desert Storm, I was continually impressed by the professionalism and courage of the female aircrew who flew daily into airfields under Scud alerts. One of our female transport aircraft commanders coolly maneuvered her C-9 away from an area of anti-aircraft fire.

Just about all of these women were good old folks. The majority were married and mothers, with the same concerns about kids, careers and the future as us guys.

My wife and mother of my four children spent five years on active duty and is now a commander in the Naval Reserves.

Nowhere have I found the hordes of ``tattooed lesbian feminists'' Mr. Strailman alluded to. I do see a Navy that has had some difficulties managing change and is now letting the sunshine in to clear out some lingering problems. A day of reflection on core values and how we respect one another despite differences in gender, race and religion is a far cry from a re-education camp. To meet the challenges of the next century, our Navy will need to continue to pick from the best and brightest. Many of these will be women.

Mr. Strailman's misogynist attack dishonors himself. He can right things with an apology to the Navy women he insulted.

ROBERT F. COYLE

Chesapeake, Dec. 17, 1995 by CNB