Gates praises soldier in pink boxers

WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said American soldiers have more than their military might and training on their side in the war in Afghanistan.

Some even have pink underwear. Gates told an audience in New York about Specialist Zachary Boyd. He's the soldier from Fort Worth who was routed from sleep by enemy fire on his post in eastern Afghanistan and waged war in his "I Love New York" underwear.

The photograph by Associated Press photographer David Guttenfelder ran on the front page of The New York Times.

Boyd later told his parents he might get fired, but Gates assured his audience at the Intrepid museum that Boyd's job is safe.

In his words: "Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage."