Attacks on Homosexuals
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Your Jan. 9 article about the murder of a sailor in Japan (“Homosexual Sailor Beaten to Death, Navy Confirms”) is very misleading. The thrust of the story is that the Navy attempted to cover up the death and only confirmed the incident after pressure from gay activist groups and family members of the murdered sailor.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Seaman Allen R. Schindler was killed in Sasebo, Japan, in late October, and the fact of his death was released and reported immediately. On Dec. 11, the Navy confirmed that the issue of homosexuality was being investigated as one of the motives in the incident. This information was carried by three major television networks in the U.S. as well as by wire services.
Throughout this ordeal, the Navy has maintained a delicate balance of keeping the public informed to the greatest extent possible without jeopardizing the investigative and military justice processes. A shipmate is dead and the Navy is committed to conducting a full and thorough investigation into the whole matter.
To say the Navy has confirmed this matter only after being confronted with charges of a cover up is way off base.
ADM. R.J. KELLY
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
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