Blunt's decision to donate pay is admirable

P Missouri's secretary of state will contribute his military pay while he is on active duty, along with thousands of others, in the war on terrorism.

Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt last week joined more than 30,000 American military men and women who have been called to serve their country in the war on terrorism.

Blunt is a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in history from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., before serving five years of active duty that included tours as an engineering officer aboard the frigate USS Jack Williams and as a navigator and administrative officer on the destroyer USS Peterson.

The eldest son of U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri participated in a United Nations blockade of Haiti and was involved in the interdiction of Cuban migrants in 1994.

He also was involved in drug interdiction missions on the South American coast before leaving active duty and joining the reserves in 1998.

At age 30, Blunt has over a relatively short 10 years attained an envious military record that sailors with many more years of service would be proud to have duplicated.

He gallantly accepted his call to duty and said he was willing to do whatever is asked in the war on terrorism.

Last November, Blunt was the only Republican for statewide office to win election. He became secretary of state in January and is to serve a four-year term.

His activation orders specify that he serve for one year, although the tour could be shorter depending on developments.

Blunt is in a unique situation:

He is believed to be the only elected statewide officeholder in the nation to be called to military duty in the anti-terrorism campaign.

As such, questions have been raised by some family members of reservists called to active duty who must leave their jobs without pay at to whether Blunt should continue to receive his $75,915 annual salary as secretary of state.

No constitutional legal requirement prevents Blunt from receiving his Missouri pay while serving overseas.

He has named an assistant to run his office and says he intends to stay in touch with his office (at his own expense) as long as he is able to do so.

He will continue to receive his secretary of state salary, but he will donate his military pay to charity.

His decision to donate his military pay is an admirable one that should satisfy those whose bread-winners won't be paid by their employers while they are on active duty.

And it will go a long way toward diverting potential complaints about fairness and assuring Blunt a healthy political future.