Army Spc. Zachary Boyd of Fort Worth won't see his military career tarnished for being photographed in pink boxer shorts during a recent firefight with the Taliban.

That word comes straight from the top — Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The photo, taken by David Guttenfelder of The Associated Press, ran on the front page of The New York Times and was soon picked up by the Star-Telegram.

Numerous TV news programs also followed the story about Boyd and his colorful skivvies, which are decorated with the slogan "I Love New York."

Boyd, the 20-year-old son of Tommy and Sheree Boyd of Fort Worth, aspires to be a helicopter pilot or an Army Ranger. But he told his parents that he heard the Times gets placed on the desk of the president, who now has probably seen him "out of uniform."

Gates, however, was impressed with the soldier's eagerness to fight, and he said so in a speech Thursday night in New York City.

He remarked that the soldier had been asleep when the attack began, so he grabbed his gear and joined the other troops.

"Well, let me tell you, the next time I visit Afghanistan, I want to meet Spc. Boyd and shake his hand," Gates told his audience at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

To read the complete article, visit www.star-telegram.com.