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It is my opinion that a broad-gauged policy, representative
of the Personnel Department in the Army, should not be governed by
the mores of our society regarding this problem. As is true in the
Negro problem, we may have to point the way. No policy should be
adopted which would reflect an attitude that might justifiably be
used by Congress or the "Church" for castigating the Services, You
know that we have always had considerable difficulty with the Catho-
lic Church and with such individuals as Perrin Long with reference
to a common sense attitude regarding venereal disease in the Army.
The same holds true in anything connected with so-called "failure
on the part of the Army11 to take stern measures regarding homosex-
uality in the Army. These individuals and groups place homosexuality
in the same category as venereal disease, or worse,
I must admit that I am tolerant in this respect as I am in my
attitude with reference to policies and practices regarding vagaries
in conduct or ineffectiveness for any reason, I believe that each
case should be judged upon its merits. I do not subscribe to general-
ized prohibitions. I feel that the saving in manpower which would
result from intelligent consideration of these problems in the Ser-
vices and in society would pay for itself many times.
You may think that my attitude in these matters is not sound
in the light of some experiences I have had during my many years of
military service, The following is illustrative: I was summoned
to attend a soldier in Battery "C" in the Artillery which was en-
camped in the Philippines, This soldier was dying from crushing
blows inflicted upon his skull. It developed that the Battery had
learned that he was a homosexual and had set up a stool pigeon so
that this soldier could be caught "red handed". The end result was
that a number of fellow Battery soldiers at the proper moment entered
the tent and with pick handles blasted this fellow's head to a pulp.
This gives an indication of the indignation and repugnance that many
rough soldiers in that Battery of mule artilleryment harbored in this
connection,
I have forwarded to Medical Officers in the British and French
Medical Service a questionnaire (copy inclosed) which amplifies the
request made in your letter. The answers will be forwarded to you
when received. I have been unable as yet to locate a satisfactory
source of information in the Italian Army Medical Service, I am sure
to do so within a few days and will forward you the information, which
may be delayed, when I receive it.
155 R
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"ocrText": "It is my opinion that a broad-gauged policy, representative\nof the Personnel Department in the Army, should not be governed by\nthe mores of our society regarding this problem. As is true in the\nNegro problem, we may have to point the way. No policy should be\nadopted which would reflect an attitude that might justifiably be\nused by Congress or the \"Church\" for castigating the Services, You\nknow that we have always had considerable difficulty with the Catho-\nlic Church and with such individuals as Perrin Long with reference\nto a common sense attitude regarding venereal disease in the Army.\nThe same holds true in anything connected with so-called \"failure\non the part of the Army11 to take stern measures regarding homosex-\nuality in the Army. These individuals and groups place homosexuality\nin the same category as venereal disease, or worse,\nI must admit that I am tolerant in this respect as I am in my\nattitude with reference to policies and practices regarding vagaries\nin conduct or ineffectiveness for any reason, I believe that each\ncase should be judged upon its merits. I do not subscribe to general-\nized prohibitions. I feel that the saving in manpower which would\nresult from intelligent consideration of these problems in the Ser-\nvices and in society would pay for itself many times.\nYou may think that my attitude in these matters is not sound\nin the light of some experiences I have had during my many years of\nmilitary service, The following is illustrative: I was summoned\nto attend a soldier in Battery \"C\" in the Artillery which was en-\ncamped in the Philippines, This soldier was dying from crushing\nblows inflicted upon his skull. It developed that the Battery had\nlearned that he was a homosexual and had set up a stool pigeon so\nthat this soldier could be caught \"red handed\". The end result was\nthat a number of fellow Battery soldiers at the proper moment entered\nthe tent and with pick handles blasted this fellow's head to a pulp.\nThis gives an indication of the indignation and repugnance that many\nrough soldiers in that Battery of mule artilleryment harbored in this\nconnection,\nI have forwarded to Medical Officers in the British and French\nMedical Service a questionnaire (copy inclosed) which amplifies the\nrequest made in your letter. The answers will be forwarded to you\nwhen received. I have been unable as yet to locate a satisfactory\nsource of information in the Italian Army Medical Service, I am sure\nto do so within a few days and will forward you the information, which\nmay be delayed, when I receive it.\n155 R"
}