LEGISLATORS, MILITARY REACT TO PLAN

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson joined other congressmen and senators in urging President Clinton to reconsider his position regarding homosexuals in the U.S. military.

In a letter to the White House on Tuesday, Emerson said his offices have been inundated with telephone calls and letters from constituents in southern Missouri expressing support for keeping the ban in place.

Pete Jeffries, a Washington spokesman for Emerson, said hundreds of telephone calls had been received at the congressman's offices in Washington, Cape Girardeau and Rolla.

The Cape Girardeau office received 75 calls on the issue Tuesday, Jeffries said.

"I am writing to state my firm opposition to your administration's proposal to lift the ban on allowing homosexuals in the military," wrote Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau.

"I think that a change in the current policy would be detrimental to the morale and the unit integrity of the force. I think we would see difficulties arise in which our military would not be as effective in combat."

In the letter to Clinton, Emerson called the president's attention to the strong opposition to lifting the ban on homosexuals in the military by the 3.1 million veterans in the American Legion, and that in other veterans' groups around the country.

On Friday, the American Legion issued a statement supporting current Department of Defense policy that states "homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

The American Legion declared that most Americans oppose allowing gays to enlist in the military. The organization called on President Clinton to let Congress debate and decide the issue.

Blair Moran, chaplain of American Legion Post 114 in Sikeston, said his opposition is based on a number of factors. The "overriding concern" is the danger posed to military units by soldiers who might be infected with the HIV virus, Moran said.

"When you get in a combat situation, someone's going to stop and is going to be afraid to render aid to him."

Moran was a combat infantryman in Vietnam from 1969-70.

The military also would have to pay the high cost of medical care for soldiers who develop AIDS, Moran said.

"And if the guy is killed, who are the survivor's benefits going to be paid to his family or his lover?"

Moran said gays also pose a morale problem for soldiers who would not respect a superior officer they knew was homosexual.

If gays are allowed into the military, "I think many people would be reluctant to enlist," Moran said. "And many quality NCO's (non-commissioned officers) would resign."

In his letter to the president, Emerson continued, "To make the argument that it is discrimination similar to the segregation of our forces prior to 1948 simply does not hold water.

"As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell stated, `Skin color is a benign, non-behavioral characteristic. Sexual orientation is perhaps the most profound of human behavioral characteristics. Comparison of the two is a convenient, but invalid argument.'"

Emerson also noted the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which now prohibits homosexual acts by military personnel, can only be changed by an act of Congress.

"The Armed Forces has a basic, fundamental mission to protect the citizens of this country. It is up to you, Mr. President, as Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces to do everything in your power to maintain the military capability of the unit, the cohesiveness, and the morale of those men and women that you send into combat."