From: "Rev. Jim Sutter" <IRIS...@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Shannon Faulkner
Date: 1995/08/20
Message-ID: <950820115643_58837488@mail02.mail.aol.com>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 108545850
sender: Americans with Disabilities Act Law
comments: Gated by NETN...@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
newsgroups: bit.listserv.ada-law

In a message dated 95-08-20 08:28:41 EDT, you write:

>RROBB...@MAINE.MAINE.EDU (Ryan Robbins)

RE: Sharon Faulkner.

In your support of Ms. Faulkner's short-lived time at the Citadel, you may
have missed my prior point.  Admittedly, it is a point that sometimes is
difficult for a civilian to understand.  I am now a civilian, but I served my
country, and received the Navy Cross, (the highest award from the Navy), the
Dept of Defense Medal of Valor, and the Purple Heart.  So I like to think
that I am somewhat qualified to speak to "espirit de corps".

The very black and white facts appear to be thus:  Ms. Faulkner spent years
in court, costing herself and the Citadel tens of thousands of legal dollars.
 She won, which is not a problem (I believe women should be involved in
active duty).  She went to her first week, otherwise known as Hell Week.  The
temperature was very hot, and she and several male cadets reported to sickbay
with probable heat exhaustion.  After a couple of days in sickbay, she quit.

Three points stand out, probably most clearly to vets, but civilians should
be able to understand here, too...  (A) Wars are NOT fought when there is
good, comfortable weather.  Wars are fought in extreme heat and extreme cold.
 Wars are fought in sunshine and in monsoons.  Wars are fought in the desert
and in blizzards.  Soldiers and sailors train for All types of weather, and
if the serviceperson cannot tolerate a little heat, then they have no place
in the service.  (B) Several men reported to sickbay with heat exhaustion at
the same time as Ms. Faulkner, yet the majority of them didn't resign.  (C)
Ms. Faulkner fought like mad in court to get the opportunity to try to become
a military officer.  She won in court, she tried at the Citidal and she
couldn't hack it - exactly what the Citadel's attorneys had spent years in
court trying to explain to her.   When I say she tried, I say so somewhat
facetiously, as military training is meant to be extremely difficult, and
millions of men have completed it over the years.  One must try and try again
to suceed in the military.  I don't know her personally, and I have nothing
personally against her, but I strongly believe she could have tried harder.
 The reaction of the other cadets was extremely unprofessional, and I would
imagine they have been disciplined.  An officer is to be a gentleman, and
part of that is not to rejoice at the shortcomings of others.  Rev Jim