It's time to talk about Newkirk in drag and a specific aspect of it. Pretty sure it started off with the episode "I Look Better in Basic Black" where he, LeBeau and Hogan dress up as women to get the women they're impersonating out of camp. And Newkirk... I kid you not, Carter stares at him for a long time and Hogan stops mid-sentence to compliment him, saying: "You look good in basic black." Fast forward a bunch of episodes later. Once again, someone has to impersonate a woman and Hogan says to Newkirk: "I've always liked you in basic black." Newkirk immediately knows what he's talking about and gets flashbacks right then and there. But he doesn't say anything. Following this, LeBeau and Carter help Newkirk get ready and he rambles about how dressing up as a woman could get him shot. Carter compliments him that he looks good as a woman and Newkirk doesn't deny it but instead says he'll be dead if the Germans catch him. Then LeBeau says he'd like to dance with him and Newkirk replies he'll be dancing at the end of a rope. What I'm getting at is:
He never said he doesn't like it - which is a huge contrast to how muh he protests before wearing basic black for the first time! He's just worried about the consequences! And speaking of that first time, once he gets into the role, he plays it so convincingly! His lady voice is much better than Hogan's or LeBeau's and when they make they're escape, he interrupts to ask if his mascara is running, like, the man is literally so invested in looking good as a woman now. AND when they get back to the barracks he's the only one still in full costume. Hogan and LeBeau already took their wigs off.
So, in conclusion: You can't tell me that basic black didn't awaken something in Newkirk.