I applaud the writer of “Clean USO shows preferred” (letter, Dec. 24-25), regarding the foul entertainment that often has to be endured among servicemembers.

Unfortunately, I suspect he will get a lot of negative comments about his suggestion that entertainers and soldiers clean up their acts. I have had to endure pressure to tolerate foul and embarrassing language among servicemembers. On a plane ride over here, I had to publicly announce that there will be no more foul language and crude talk, because I was embarrassed that our civilian crew would have to endure the kind of language and foul talk [heard] on the bus ride to the airport. Unfortunately again, when a suggestion is made to clean it up, I usually hear comments like, “What do you expect, this is the Army” and, “They won’t mind, they know we are in the Army.”

I work in the corrections industry in my civilian job. I endure far less exposure to the constant barrage of foul language among that crowd. I have approximately 18 years of military service and I have had two breaks of service during those years. I moved forward with those breaks in service in part because I frequently grow weary of the offensive environment I am typically expected to endure. When it is pointed out, I get shrugged shoulders and looks of innocence like nothing is really wrong.

Good for the letter writer. I hope it gets cleaned up before servicemembers who take the Army values seriously feel they have to leave the military to live them in their entirety.

First Lt. Leif H. SorensenForward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq