First Soldier Injured In Iraq Speaks Out Against ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
First Soldier Injured In Iraq Speaks Out Against ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
Since the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy went into effect, the Pentagon has dismissed more than 11,000 servicemembers, many of whom have key specialty skills such as training in medicine and language. At a time when the military faces a readiness crisis, the Pentagon cannot afford to dismiss two service members a day as it is doing under the current policy.
Today, Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) reintroduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill that would allow gays to serve openly in the military. Joining Meehan at a press conference today was retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier to be seriously wounded in Iraq. A gay man, Alva did not admit his sexual orientation until he retired from the military, but Alva has since become a strong advocate for repealing the policy. Good Morning America told his story this morning.
Watch it:
In an interview not included in the televised report, Alva told ABC News about how his old Marine buddies took the news that he was gay:
“I told tons of people,” he said, with a laugh. “A lot of my friends, my buddies, my closest Marines, people I had served in combat with. Straight guys, married, with children and everything, three of them which I have become their sons’ godfather now. Everybody was just respectful and was just like ordinary. ‘That’s it? That’s your big news?’”
Alva says that while anti-gay language wasn’t exactly unheard of in the Marines, generally he thinks troops are ready for gays and lesbians to serve openly.
“Being on the front lines and serving with the people who even actually knew that I was gay, you know, that was never a factor. We were there to do a job. We were [there] to do a mission. I don’t think people would have a hard time with it because they know that the person right next to them is going to be there to protect them, in our terms, ‘have their back.’”
Learn more about the effort to lift the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy here.
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Because real Marines don’t give a crap if you are gay or straight. All they care about is if you have their back when things get tough. Our NeoCon trolls wouldn’t know anything about honor and courage, as they have never served.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:16 pmThink I’ll hang out here for awhile in case Daryll shows up… or maybe he is to depressed to post, now that they have found Jesus’ ossuary……….
February 28th, 2007 at 7:16 pmThank you for your service, Staff Sgt. Alva.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:18 pmWilliam “the freezer” Jefferson nominated for homeland security panel. Heh.
Flapjack McCain makes it official.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:19 pmOT- Wondering if anyone else caught this potential earth-shaking story?
BBC Announced 9/11 Building 7 Collapse Before It Happened
28-Feb-2007
Video of a BBC News broadcast from the World Trade Center area on 9/11 has surfaced revealing that the BBC reported the collapse of Building 7 approximately 23 minutes before it actually went down.
The reporter is seen in the video apparently reading a teleprompter reporting the collapse while the building is still standing in the background behind her.
The BBC has claimed that it lost all of the video of its reportage on 9/11, but a copy of the report has been played on a British television program and is now posted on the internet. As can be seen in our full report, dozens of prominent US officials are now questioning the 9/11 story.
BBC News Editor Richard Porter has stated on his BBC News blog that “We didn’t get told in advance that buildings were going to fall down. We didn’t receive press releases or scripts in advance of events happening.” He has also stated that the reporter involved, Jane Standley, both “has the events seared on her mind” and “doesn’t remember minute-by-minute what she said.”
However, what she said and when she did so is now a matter of public record despite the fact that, according to Mr. Porter’s claim, “we no longer have the original tapes of our 9/11 coverage.”
February 28th, 2007 at 7:22 pmSgt. Alva–A BRAVE MAN, A TRUE AMERICAN HERO, AND NEVER MIND HIS ORIENTATION, THAT IS NOBODY’S BUSINESS EXCEPT HIS OWN!!!!!
February 28th, 2007 at 7:26 pmBRAVO, SIR!!!!!
There’s more to 9/11 than we think.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:27 pmHow in the bloody hell can you lose all of your video reportage of such an event?
February 28th, 2007 at 7:27 pmComment by ForTruth #4
I find it really strange that the Bush DOJ…
…hasn’t indicted Jefferson yet…
…what with all that “evidence”…
…hmmmm….
February 28th, 2007 at 7:30 pmBravo! Staff.Sgt. Alva and Thank You for your service to our country…..Blessings
February 28th, 2007 at 7:31 pmI only wish lesbians were more accepted and “in” before I became so old, demented and physically repulsive.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:32 pmThere may be more to 9-11 than we know but the cheney regime had nothing to do with it. Their incompetence is so great that they have fcuked up everything they touch. No way they pulled this off.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:36 pmI have often thought it would be a good thing if the people we coment on or issues should be sent to those people and the appropiate media or public official’s…Good , bad or indiffrent…Maybe in showing just who is supporting what and the true public view’s would be eye openers to people that take the risk’s to show they are different but still very diserving of recognition and on the other hand the bullies and bad guy’s would see how they are seen as well..I wonder if it would be a change for good, maybe….Blessings
February 28th, 2007 at 7:39 pmI don’t think people would have a hard time with it because they know that the person right next to them is going to be there to protect them, in our terms, ‘have their back.’â€
Their lower back, that is.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:39 pm(Im sorry, couldnt resist)
This is what Larry C is talking about. Look for 6:15 in the video.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:44 pmThink I’ll hang out here for awhile in case Daryll shows up…
Comment by Friar Mynd — February 28, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
This post has been up for 30 minutes already and he hasn’t shown up, I’m worried – anyone know if he’s been raptured?
February 28th, 2007 at 7:44 pmI salute you MSgt Alva ! When I was a Corpsman in ‘Nam with the 3rd MarDiv in 1968 I was accused of being gay. “Well, What about it”, I said to the Colonel. ” I think my being gay has been good for my unit’s morale.”…..Well, they gave me a Captain’s Mast but they were unable to give me a bad discharge because somewhere in the UCMJ there was a provision that people who had received bronze and silver stars could not be discharged for being gay. I suppose the twisted military logic of the time was that if you got an award for bravery in combat you could not possibly be “queer”…..I have a feeling that things have not changed greatly…I hope to be proven wrong soon.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:46 pmThis post has been up for 30 minutes already and he hasn’t shown up, I’m worried – anyone know if he’s been raptured?
Comment by Quadrajet
Last time Darryl was around, he said he was getting married that Saturday. If I had to guess, he’s either riding hard and making up for lost time, or quivering and crying in a dark closet.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:46 pmIf I had to guess, he’s either riding hard and making up for lost time, or quivering and crying in a dark closet.
Comment by Zooey — February 28, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
So he’s either in the company of his wife or Vince P. eh?
February 28th, 2007 at 7:52 pmre: 9-11
Well while I think the bush and co are generally incompetent as far as their foreign policy (as well as domestic) they could have easily allowed terrorists to do their dirty deed. Which helped the international bankers the most. Trillions of dollars missing which was stored there, as well as all kinds of data in WTC7 (although any good contingency plan requires off site data backup).
There are too many holes in the story, someday I hope we know the truth, which I think we’ll get there are a lot of respected people working on finding the truth. Kennedy assassination would have been easy to cover up, this one not so much.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:53 pmI suppose the twisted military logic of the time was that if you got an award for bravery in combat you could not possibly be “queerâ€â€¦..I have a feeling that things have not changed greatly…I hope to be proven wrong soon.
Comment by angryvietnamdisabledvet
Thank you for your service, angryvietnamdisabledvet. This is the thing I find so incredible. You were providing a vital service on the battlefield, and yet they were quite ready to throw away any skill you had because you are gay — just like so many Arabic translators, and others, were tossed out for being gay. It makes absolutely no sense.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:55 pmZooey, you are so very funny….Blessings
February 28th, 2007 at 7:56 pmSo he’s either in the company of his wife or Vince P. eh?
Comment by Quadrajet
I’m really trying hard not to think about it — either way. :P
February 28th, 2007 at 7:56 pmZooey, you are so very funny….Blessings
Comment by Sharon
:-)
Here’s a flower: @}———>———-
February 28th, 2007 at 8:02 pmThank’s Zooey, that’s the best and I don’t have to water and feed it…Blessings
February 28th, 2007 at 8:48 pm“Because real Marines don’t give a crap if you are gay or straight”
Comment by Spudge_Boy — February 28, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
I echo that!
BRAVO, SIR!!!!!
Comment by Raymond Funamoto — February 28, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
Now you are insulting the man. He is not a Sir, He is a Staff Sergeant. Sir ia a custom reserved for Commissioned Officers. Staff Non-Commissioned Officers are much better than officers! :)
SSgt RM Perkovich
February 28th, 2007 at 8:54 pm“Because real Marines don’t give a crap if you are gay or straightâ€
Comment by Spudge_Boy — February 28, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
I echo that!
Comment by hacker bob — February 28, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
This is why I say there’s hope for you yet, Baghdad Bob!
Compared to that hopeless and worthless c*nt valiant venus, you’re like almost a real person ;)
February 28th, 2007 at 9:02 pmComment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus — February 28, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Ummm…thanks, I think
February 28th, 2007 at 9:09 pmStaff Non-Commissioned Officers are much better than officers! :)
SSgt RM Perkovich
Comment by hacker bob
Almost a real person….heh. :P
February 28th, 2007 at 9:21 pmUmmm…thanks, I think
Comment by hacker bob — February 28, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
Hey, the compliment was a mixed bag – just like your posts!
February 28th, 2007 at 9:23 pmComment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus — February 28, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
I am a walking talking bag of contradictions. Keeps life interesting.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:26 pmIf I had to guess, he’s either riding hard and making up for lost time, or quivering and crying in a dark closet.
Comment by Zooey — February 28, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
just had to say – you may have topped yourself, girl!
February 28th, 2007 at 9:31 pmvery funny, very witty…
I am a walking talking bag of contradictions. Keeps life interesting.
Comment by hacker bob — February 28, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
We know, but that’s also why you’re a complex and real human being and not a sick st*pid c*nt like valiant venus!
February 28th, 2007 at 9:37 pmjust had to say – you may have topped yourself, girl!
very funny, very witty…
Comment by katy
Zing!! :)
February 28th, 2007 at 10:29 pmOT- Wondering if anyone else caught this potential earth-shaking story?
BBC Announced 9/11 Building 7 Collapse Before It Happened
28-Feb-2007
Yes. I tried to download it yesterday but google/youtube pulled it within 20 minutes (This video is no longer availible for viewing) of the guy that posted it, after he told everyone on Alex Jones show what he posted. It’s all over the place now. Since then people have gone back to CNN and ABC footage and the same thing at the same times.
Reports that building 7 had collapsed on CNN by Aaron Brown is kind of funny, he’s saying that he just received a report that biulding 7 has just collapsed, then he looks at building 7 with confusion because it’s still standing. Fu@king amazing. This needs to be so investigated by non-politicals.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:05 pmI find it really strange that the Bush DOJ…
…hasn’t indicted Jefferson yet…
…what with all that “evidenceâ€â€¦
…hmmmm….
I haven’t thought about that for awhile. You are absolutely right. I assumed he was guilty until proven innocent but they haven’t brought indictments? That is confusing.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:25 pmSo, the right wing thinks it is ok for criminals and KKK members to serve but queers? Even if they have essential language skills? We don’t want them. What a bunch of morons.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:27 pm“Our NeoCon trolls wouldn’t know anything about honor and courage, as they have never served.
Comment by Spudge_Boy — February 28, 2007 @ 7:16 pm”
Have you?
March 1st, 2007 at 1:21 am“Thank you for your service, Staff Sgt. Alva.
Comment by Zooey — February 28, 2007 @ 7:18 pm”
And thank you for NOT serving! If we had to depend on cut and run cowards like you my wife would be wearing a burqua!
March 1st, 2007 at 1:24 amHave you?
Comment by michael — March 1, 2007 @ 1:21 am
Have you, except behind a desk? Coward?
March 1st, 2007 at 1:35 amAnd thank you for NOT serving! If we had to depend on cut and run cowards like you my wife would be wearing a burqua!
Comment by michael — March 1, 2007 @ 1:24 am
You have a wife? When is he getting the sex change? Why would a coward like you that only served behind a desk have anything relevant to say? fcukhead coward?
March 1st, 2007 at 1:36 am#40 Valiant, I love your post’s, thank you for the smack down’s on the dark little troll’s…I realy mean that….Blessings
March 1st, 2007 at 2:16 amMost GOPers will not come on this thread, because they have never believed that any Marines could be Gay. Most GOPers in DC are closeted hypocrites themselves.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:26 amAnyone hear where Daryll went on his honeymoon?
March 1st, 2007 at 12:48 pmSome guy in Indiana tried to cash a $50,000 check signed by King of Kings, Lord of Lords, etc.
Our gay service members show more patriotism than the non-serving neo-cons.
Having a law against gay people serving in the military denies our military the best people for the job.
March 1st, 2007 at 1:38 pm[...] remark was a slur, but others do, including retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, a gay man and the first American soldier to be seriously wounded in Iraq. Alva said in a statement about Pace: Judging gay men and women in the military for factors [...]
March 19th, 2007 at 3:09 pm