Here - International Pentecostal Holiness Church

May 15, 2010
Page 99 of 132
Chaplain, Colonel Gary Linsky
United States Air Force
SUBJECT: An addendum to: Endorser input on the Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell” Legislation and Practicing Homosexuals Serving in the Military
From: The International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Inc.
P. O. Box 12609
Oklahoma City, OK 73157-2609
Dear Chaplain Linsky:
It is my belief that the White House and Congress are completely out of touch
with the American people. I am confident that the majority of Americans are
repulsed by homosexual and lesbian lifestyles. I recommend a poll to be taken
among the men and women in the armed forces to get their opinion.
I joined the Marine Corps in 1953. I was a ministerial student at the time, and
would have been drafted in the Army, but I refused to apply for a ministerial
deferment. I considered myself to be an American so I wanted to volunteer to
fight for my country, and did. I can tell you the Marines I served with on active
duty for three years were heterosexual men.
While in the Marine Corps, a young Methodist Navy chaplain came where we
were. When I saw the cross on his uniform, I instantly remembered my
commitment to Jesus Christ as a six-year-old boy. That cross for me was a
visible reminder of the Holy unseen God to Whom I was accountable and had
earlier given my heart and life to serve and obey. I was backsliding at that time,
but I repented of my sins and rededicated my life to Christ. Through the ministry
of this chaplain, I was called to be a military chaplain. I found out what the
requirements were, and set my heart like a flint to finish college, go to seminary,
and pastor a church for two years. In seminary, I was in the Army Chaplain
Candidate Program. I finished the Chaplain Officer Basic Course at Fort Slocum
on David’s Island, just off the shore from New Rochelle, NY. Since there were no
openings in the Army following my graduation from seminary, I pastored a rural
church for two years. One of our Air Force chaplains was killed in an Air Force
transport aircraft over Manila, Philippines, in April 1964, when some 57 souls lost
their lives. Shortly after that, my bishop asked me to fill that vacancy. I had to
resign my commission in the Army Reserve, and was sworn in the Air Force.
I spent 10 years on active duty as an Air Force chaplain and 16 years in the Air
Force Reserve as an IMA. I served for five years as a member of the USAF
Chaplains Resource Board at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and developed the themes
of two different Chiefs for five years. I retired in 1991 from Robins AFB, GA.
COB Meeting July 19-20, 2010