Don't Ask, Don't Tell: From the Inside Out, Eric's story at the Huffington Post

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-alva/dont-ask-dont-tell-fr_b_42310.html

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: From the Inside Out (13 comments )
READ MORE: United States, Iraq

Coming from a military family, I'm sure it was not much of a surprise when I told my parents that I planned to join the military. After all, both my grandfather and father had proudly served in the Army; my grandfather was a World War II and Korean War veteran and my father served in Vietnam.
I had graduated from high school in 1989, and after two unremarkable semesters at community college, I knew the last thing I wanted was to continue living at home and working for a fast food restaurant chain.

Fortunately, I had witnessed other friends join the United States Marine Corps and return home from boot camp completely transformed into a military man with their short haircuts and crisp uniforms. I knew then that this was what I wanted. So on June 15, 1990 I was sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps. I was 19 years old.

As I began my career in the U.S. Marine Corps, I spent the early years of my military career deployed in Somalia and was later stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Being a Marine and serving my country gave me sense of confidence and honor that I relished. So in 2002, I reenlisted and found myself in Kuwait and was ultimately called to serve in the Iraq war.

On March 21, 2003, my life changed forever.

Soon after combat began in Iraq, I was in charge of 11 U.S. Marines on a logistical convoy when I stepped on an Iraqi landmine outside my Humvee vehicle and became the first American wounded in the Iraq War. The explosion was so powerful it blew me to the ground ten feet away and took off part of my right leg. I can still remember the ringing in my ears from the blast.

I spent months in rehabilitation where I was visited by President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. I was recognized by the military for my service and received a Purple Heart award. I was also interviewed by several major newspapers and magazines and I made numerous TV appearances, including on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Yet despite all the attention and focus on my life, today is the first time I have publicly talked about my sexuality in relation to my military service.

To be honest, each time I was commended on my courage, I couldn't help but remember how scared I was that I would be found out as gay and kicked out of the military. I remember the fear I felt when people around me in the military started debating the new "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy even before it became law. During training meetings people would make such nasty remarks about homosexuals. Still, my proudest moments during my 13 years in the military came when I would confide in one of my friends about my sexual orientation and they would still treat me with the same respect as before.

Although I'm no longer wearing the uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps, my mission continues to be protecting the rights and freedoms of all Americans. I have realized that I have an obligation to myself, my partner Darrell and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans across the country to stand up and speak out for our deserved rights.

FULL story at link.