17 May 1997

The Honorable Sheila Widnall
Secretary of the Air Force
Washington DC

Airman Gayla A. Zigo
PSC I, Box 2587
Minot AFB, ND 58705

Dear Secretary

I am writing to you to express the anger I felt when the media made me believe you might be willing to allow Lt. Flinn to resign with an honorable discharge. Ma'am, I am the former wife of Marc Zigo, the man Lt. Flinn has admitted to having an ongoing affair with. As you well know, I am a victim of the charges facing Lt. Flinn. I have avoided talking with the media and have yet to tell my side of the story, even though the press has pursued me. I decided to wait and tell my story at trial out of respect for the Air Force system of justice and for my future career in the Air Force (one day I hope to become a commissioned officer myself). Now I hear there is a possibility that Lt. Flinn may avoid facing the charges against her at a court martial. The result would be I will have never been able to express my feelings and tell my story.

Lt. Flinn played soccer with my husband on the base soccer team. Before a soccer game, Lt. Flinn introduced herself to me as "Kelly"; this was after only four days of being at Minot Air Force Base (as a brand new Air Force member of the lowest enlisted rank). Less than a week after we arrived to the base, Lt. Flinn was in bed with my husband having sex. When I found the love letters Lt. Flinn gave my husband, I was shocked. I thought she was simply being a friend to my husband, not trying to break up our marriage. How could I compete with her? She had power, both as an officer and Academy graduate. She also had special status as the first female B-52 pilot. After I found the love letters, I asked my First Sergeant to speak with Lt. Flinn and ask her to stay away from my husband. I did not want anyone else to know about this; that is one reason I handled it the way I did. Lt. Flinn told my First Sergeant she would stop seeing my husband because she knew it was wrong. I thought the matter was resolved. Later, I found out I was wrong; she had continued her relationship with Marc.

Lt. Flinn did not care about my feelings. She was just out for herself. On several occasions, I came home from work and found her at my house with Marc. While at my house, she was always in her flight suit flaunting the fact that she was an Academy graduate and the first female bomber pilot. She told me once she wanted to settle down with someone; I didn't know that that somebody was my husband. Lt. Flinn knew we were married and not separated, but that did not stop her. I am tired of Lt. Flinn acting as if she was the victim, when she is the one who committed the crimes. Lt. Flinn knew exactly what she was doing and that it was wrong!

I am asking you to consider my feelings when you decide your position on this case. Please do not forget that Lt. Flinn's actions had an effect on the lives and work of the military members here at Minot AFB. If Lt. Flinn gets away with these crimes, what does that say to the rest of the Air Force populace? If you have a special status, it is acceptable to commit adultery and disobey a commanders' direct order. I know this is not your intent, and you will make a fair decision if Lt. Flinn requests to resign. Thank you for your time and your consideration for my feelings in this matter.

Sincerely,

Gayla A. Zigo

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