SOURCE: "Gay Life in the Military: A Record of Success," in The New York Times, Section C, April 21, 1993, p. 20.

Mitgang is a noted American novelist, playwright, biographer, historian, and critic. In the following review, he asserts that Conduct Unbecoming "makes a strong contribution to our knowledge" of the facts and circumstances surrounding the issue of homosexuals serving in the United States military.

Nearly everybody who has ever served in uniform knows the facts. But secrecy and hypocrisy are often in command and sometimes even wear stars. The official position is that homosexuals and lesbians are barred from the United States armed forces. No problem avoiding service; just check the box on the application form asking whether you have "homosexual tendencies" and the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines won't allow you to join the ranks of the red, white and blue heterosexual service-men and -women. That permits the...