I found the above-the-fold headline, quoting the so-called “secretary of war,” appalling (Feb. 9). This is not a serious person, for reasons I think many of your readers recognize. Firing senior women commanders (Coast Guard), retiring the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, a Black officer with decades of distinguished service, the list goes on and on.

One recent example of this ex-Fox News chat boy’s agenda:

Looking to stoke the grievance factory on the right wing, he ordered a review “to determine whether women serving in combat roles have weakened readiness in the armed services.” The senior enlisted leaders, the top professionals of every military branch, were asked directly, under oath before Congress, whether women in combat have lowered standards. Their unanimous answer: No.

One example:  Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Wolfe said, “Some of the best warfighters that the world has ever known … Some of them happen to be men, some of them happen to be women. Absolutely not, I’ve not seen any erosion.” Those in the top enlisted positions in the Navy, Marine Corps (Semper Fi, brothers and sisters) and Space Force said the same.

Hegseth is an insult to all of our armed forces, VIP visit or no, unless perhaps the red carpet that the yard management rolled out was covered in future ship contracts.

Norm Schroeder
Brunswick