Jeffrey McGowan - Major Conflict

We are diminished as a nation when our institutions fail to live up to the ideals of democracy. And the military is diminished when it fails to allow all Americans who are qualified to serve openly and proudly on behalf of their country. When the awesome and terrible decision to go to war is made, all Americans must take ownership of what follows, and all Americans—rich, poor, white, black, gay, and straight—must close ranks and do their duty.

Let us marry. Let us serve. For we, too, are Americans.

MAJOR CONFLICT. Copyright © 2005 by Jeffrey McGowan, MAJ, USA (Ret.).

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While all of the incidents in this book are true, some of the names and personal characteristics of the individuals involved have been changed in order to protect their privacy. Any resulting resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

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McGowan, Jeffrey.

Major conflict: one man’s life in the Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell military /

Jeffrey McGowan.—1st ed.

p. cm.

1. United States—Armed Forces—Gays—Government policy. 2. United States—Armed Forces—Biography. I. Title.

UB418.G38M35 2005

355’.0086’6420973—dc22

[B]

2004057017

www.randomhouse.com

eISBN: 978-0-307-41911-8

v3.0