Military: Women don't lessen combat readiness

Re: “Women won’t improve combat readiness” (letter, 2-6).

Women in combat have not shown to lessen combat readiness as evidenced by women from Israel, Vietnam, China and other countries. These women have held combat roles for decades. The same emotion is evoked witnessing male soldiers as well as female soldiers being captured, tortured then beheaded. A life is a life.

Segregated African American and Japanese American soldiers were considered inferior but proved to be outstanding soldiers worthy of our praise just as our female soldiers are today.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Military: Women don't lessen combat readiness."