OPINION:
I am the father of three women and the grandfather of three girls. I am also a retired Army officer who graduated from West Point and has seen combat. Therefore, when I heard that the Army chief of staff and the commandant of the Marine Corps had called for women to be subject to selective service, I became apoplectic.
Then when I saw that three Republican candidates for president are OK with this decision, I became enraged. I did not spend 23 years of my life in sometimes godforsaken places to have the government take my daughters and granddaughters off to war. Make no mistake — I and many others who understand the horrors of war and still believe that is our duty to protect women will not take this lying down.
To those women who want to join the military and serve in combat, I say, Good luck. To those cowardly, neutered men who would force women into this role, I will quote Madeline Albright: “There’s a special place in hell reserved for you.”
LT. COL. PAUL J. PERRONE
U.S. Army (retired)
Springfield, Va.
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