Roughstuff's Korean War Archive
book reviews and summaries, comments, analysis
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Jackson, Donna Honorable Discharge
Memoirs of an Army Dyke

Oh Donna honey...I will be eternally grateful to you for introducing the expression 'cluster fuck'-- apparently a military term for what happens when a bunch of soldiers hurry up and wait for orders. This is a great book. As a certified misogynist, I must admit so much of this book was new to me, simply because I have gone so far in making my life a woman-free-zone that the little things women must put up with--in the military and out--were all insights. I must admit, also, that I never knew women referred to each other as 'cunts'-- even in moments of anger.

In any case, this book can be divided into two parts. The first and longest part is a diary of Jackson's experiences, her life in the military, her family, her values. Unlike Steve Zeeland's cock-and-bull stories, Jackson focuses on the emotional side of being gay: her soul, her relationships. Not all were consensual either..whether it was outright rapes by a few of her male soldier buddies, or an overly aggressive black woman in the barracks one night. Jackson concentrates on her life as a Soldier who is a Lesbian (rather than a Lesbian Soldier). This is a pleasant change from Randy' Shilts vaporous constitutional tomes or Zeelands testicular automotons with rifles.

When called up for Desert Storm, another one of America's military voyeurisms sans declaration, Jackson decided, simply, that 'if I was gonna fight and possibly die for my country in a war, then I'd sure as hell go as the person I am.' Kind of reminds me of the old sixties protest song...

Your old enough to kill
but not for votin'
sau you don't believe in war
but whats that gun your totin'?

And a good question it is, one I'd love to see the mollycoddled JCS and our President squirm and answer on live national televison. How about a town meeting in Ohio, fellas?? I commend Ms. Jackson for her personal bravery and poise needed to stake a stand on this issue.

Now, critics may respond that Jackson's johnny-come-lately activism was timed more to embarass the military at a crucial moment, than ann new assessment of her moral dilemma as a lesbian in the military. Maybe so. Tuff shit! Any military person should know that you strike your enemy at his most vulnerable time. Still, if Jackson thinks/thought the news media were going to stand tall for her cause any further than just a cute story, I certainly hope she has wised up in the interim.

These last few chapters are, however, a big change in style and content. Instead of hearing about Donna Jackson, the person, we hear about Donna Jackson, the latest Gays-in-the-Military posterperson. Its too bad Donna got swept up in the "I came out now everybody else must come out too" syndrome that is so prevalent among the homo-intelligentsia. It is the same mentality that is used to call conservative blacks 'uncle toms' and 'oreos' even to this day.
The war to accept gays into society and into our military, like all wars, must be fought on all fronts and by people comfortable with the combat role they have taken. For some, such as Ms Jackson, that role may be to be 'out' and at the top of a media frenzy. For others, such as Gregg who wrote to her in Stars and Stripes May 8 1991, the battle is fought behind the lines for people's hearts and souls, one by one. If Ms. Jackson can't live with that, she can go fuck herself like she did in her expose On Our Backs.



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