Second Known Gay Soldier Honored In Congress

Today on the floor of the US House of Representatives, Congressman James Moran, (D-VA) honored a fallen American hero, and read into the Congressional Record the contents of an e-mail he had received from one of his constituents, a gay soldier currently on active duty.

Congressman Moran stated that the soldier had, “learned that a fellow soldier was also gay, only after he was killed by an IED in Iraq and only after the partner of the deceased soldier wrote the unit to say how much the victim had loved the military; how they were the only family he had ever known.”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to share the substance of an email from an active duty soldier in Afghanistan. In response to an inquiry from his commanding officer related to the military’s review of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the soldier shared how he and his partner of 10 years have managed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

He explained that they survive like any couple does except because of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, his partner would not be informed in the event of his death and could not make any emergency decision that is would normally fall to a spouse.

This situation is typical, even within his unit. He learned that a fellow soldier was also gay, only after he was killed by an IED in Iraq. The partner of the deceased soldier wrote the unit to say how much the victim had loved the military; how they were the only family he had ever known.

Admiral Mullen said this issue is a matter of integrity. This immutable human trait, sexual orientation, like the color of one’s skin, does not affect one’s integrity, their honor, our commitment to their country.
Soldiers serving their country in combat should not have their sacrifices compounded by having to struggle with an antiquated “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Let’s do the right and honorable thing and repeal this policy.
Thank you.

This is the second publicly known case of a gay soldier killed in action during our current wars. The first was U.S. Army Major Alan Rogers, who died while on patrol in Iraq in January, An estimate in excess of 200 gay and lesbian service members have died since the beginning of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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