I think they should be able to serve openly. My law school actually got into a large debate over this issue. My school's policy is that "don't ask don't tell" is illegal and so it wouldn't allow military recruiters on campus.
After a lawsuit was resolved my school was pressured into allowing recruiters if it wanted federal grant money. It is sad that even a coalition of law schools couldn't get the anti-gay policy changed and so I'm not sure that things will change in the near future. There are obviously a great deal of people that think gays should be able to openly serve and at this point I don't know who is at the top holding back progress.It likely isn't just a few people and a presidential decree won't change the set in opinions of the top brass.
The case in the source is an interesting read to anyone interested in this subject.
Of course... Anyone should be able to serve and, soon, I think the military will have to start being much more open. It seems recruiting is down. The problem is within the organization.
I'm sure people of color - especially African Americans - were "accepted", but ostricised. Same with women. The top brass might say "yes", but others might say "no"... and when you say you're not going to trust someone who you'll need to depend on for your life, that's a big conflict.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.