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Army responds to comments by author King

BANGOR, Maine — The Army is weighing in on writer Stephen King’s remark about literacy and the military that drew the ire of conservative critics this week.

King came under fire from a blogger for what he told students while stressing the importance of reading at the Library of Congress on April 4: “The fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don’t, then you’ve got the Army, Iraq, I don’t know, something like that,” King said.

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Video of King’s remarks

The ensuing flap drew a response Wednesday from Army spokesman Paul Boyce, who said most soldiers are avid readers. Military recruits test above the national average in reading and vocabulary skills, he added.

“America’s soldiers are proudly serving and fighting for us all. We can be proud of our soldiers’ selfless service, their skill and their ingenuity. They certainly are role models for every high-school student in America considering a noble career ... and many book authors,” Boyce said.

King’s office couldn’t be reached immediately for comment Wednesday.

Previously, King said Monday that he supports the troops but believes the war in Iraq is “waste of national resources ... and that includes the youth and blood of the 4,000 American troops who have lost their lives there and for the tens of thousands who have been wounded.”

“I live in a National Guard town, and I support our troops, but I don’t support either the war or educational policies that limit the options of young men and women to any one career — military or otherwise,” King said.

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