Airforce officer from Ohio discharged under don't ask don't tell!

[Howler]

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/gay-local-air-force-officer-plans-to-fight-discharge-from-service-136024.html



"Fehrenbach, 39, an assistant director of operations for the 366th Operations Support Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, said Wednesday, May 27, that he was outed by a civilian acquaintance.

Fehrenbach’s sister, Angela Trumbauer of Huber Heights, said her brother served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo and was awarded nine air medals, including one for heroism during the 2003 invasion of Iraq."



We really need this policy overturned already!!!!

[Renew Deal]

1. Over 10,000 soldiers dismissed since it was enacted.

That's deadlier than the Iraq, Afghan, and Serbian wars combined.

[Winterblues]

24. How many were dismissed and or jailed before dadt?

Don't Ask Don't Tell was a major improvement over what preceded it. :shrug: And to say it is "deadly" is just plain bull shit. No one has died..

[Statistical]

26. Exactly

At least this airman doesn't have a felony record now.

Prior to DADT homosexual conduct was a fraudulent enlistment = dishonorable discharge = felony conviction.
You were a felon based on sexual orientation.
A lot of people attack Clinton for DADT but compared to making gays felons it was an improvement however now it time for more of an improvement.

[nichomachus]

28. Do you have a link for that?

You say it was an improvement. Do you have the figures for discharges prior to DADT?

[cboy4]

2. Let's put a face to this unspeakable act of discrimination

Otherwise it's just another name, as opposed to an actual human being who is losing his career.

(Thanks for posting)

[Howler]

5. good points both!!

I'm not very tech savvy. I don't know how to post pics.
But this case like all the others is a tragedy!!! Notice how close this officer was to receiving his earned benefits.

[siligut]

22. Obviously too much of a temptation for the other boys.

Can’t have him corrupting the healthy ones. :sarcasm: (just in case)

[GodlessBiker]

3. Guys who want out of the military because they have just had enough should just suck some dick.

I mean, use the damn policy against them until the president and military get some balls.

Jon Stewart had it right...The military is trained to operate in the most dangerous and treacherous places on earth, trained to endure terrible conditions most of us can't even think about, but god forbid the guy next to them has a boyfriend.

[Howler]

6. What really got me was this quote from ....

"five colonels, listened to all the evidence and recommended an honorable discharge after finding “continued presence was inconsistent with morale, good order and unit cohesion,” Fehrenbach said."

My god!!!! This man is a distinguished and battle experienced officer.WTF!!!

[GodlessBiker]

7. The nation just became less safe.

[Howler]

8. definitely!!!! N/T

n/T

[Statistical]

10. They really have no choice.

Technically there is a review board but DADT is essentially air tight.

Any credible statement or act indicating homosexual behavior will always results in a discharge. Period.

[Howler]

12. Its really past time to change this!

It's absolutely archaic and barbaric.

[Statistical]

17. I agree. Maybe I wasn't clear.

It ONLY can change at the top President/Congress.

The Pentagon provides no latitude on "how gay" or "how public the homosexual activity is"

So while their will be an inquiry it pretty much is a rubber stamp.
There never has and never will be a homosexual who doesn't get discharged from a DADT inquiry.

Once it gets to that point it is an automatic discharge.

The only way to change that is at the top.

[Howler]

32. You were very clear Statistical !!!

I understand exactly what you are saying about military law.
I agree it does have to start with 'The commander and chief"
which is why I find Obama's silence and inaction on these most recent cases since he has taken office particularly painful and poignant.

[GodlessBiker]

15. They have a choice. There is always a choice.

[Statistical]

19. You have a choice to go to prison also.

That is what you are asking those officers to do by not recommending a discharge in a DADT case.

The UCMJ is very very clear and absolute. There is no method those fellow officers can use to keep a soldier who is in violation of DADT in the military.

To do so would result in UCMJ charges against them.

The only way this changes is DADT changes. Period.

[GodlessBiker]

20. Yes, you do. They are making a choice to commit an immoral act. Make no mistake.

[Statistical]

23. Not so black & white.

I, (name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

DADT is wrong but asking soldiers to violate the oath is not correct either.
The military works because people do as they are told often dying in the process. They do so because they took an oath.
As long as the President orders officers to uphold DADT they are obligated to do so.

Make no mistake until Obama signs a repeal of DADT that is exactly what he is ordering every service member to do.

[Vickers]

4. "awarded nine air medals, including one for heroism"

But I thought gays were a bunch of cowards?




(and just in case: :sarcasm: )

[kevinbgoode]

9. This really is an outrage!

The constant expectation that some American citizens are supposed to sacrifice their lives and their careers to protect the projections of the sexual imaginations of OTHERS is just utterly astounding. And this Administration, which continues to drag its feet on this situation, has just as much an obligation to protect the rights of gay citizens as it claims to be so concerned with those heterosexuals who are overly obsessed with the sexual orientation of others.

The time has long passed where gay Americans should be forced to pay taxes to support a heterosexual image-only employment system by our government - and we should not stand idly by while American heroes are discharged after protecting this nation just because they are gay.

This man should not have to "wait" until the government assesses the impact of overturning this awful DADT policy. We KNOW what the REAL damages are - and the utter hardship and humiliation visited upon men and women who serve this nation with distinction. Our public officials have a duty to end this travesty of a policy immediately.

[xchrom]

11. recommend -- the fundies in the airforce are going to have a hard time

explaining how he managed to accrue 9 medals and threatened unit cohesion.

[nichomachus]

29. Correction: The Air Force are the fundies

The Air Force Academy is really just an evangelical seminary

[xchrom]

30. ain't that right. nt

[Forkboy]

13. Fucking sad.

[roody]

14. One less person killing. The silver lining.

[GodlessBiker]

16. One less gay brother or sister in harm's way. I look at it that way sometimes.

But that is really putting my preference above the preference of the soldier.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Is your Congressman a cosponsor of H. R. 1283 (Ellen Tauscher's bill to repeal DADT)?

Even my Republican Congresswoman is a cosponsor.

[GodlessBiker]

21. Mine is, too. 140 co-sponsors.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1283/show

[VenusRising]

27. Thanks for the list.

My congresswoman is a co-sponsor, too.

[Howler]

31. Ohio state government is just now discussing ......

equal protection for Gays and transgender citizens under the law.
You see in Ohio you can still be Fired,evicted.etc for being Gay.
I just read an article in this mornings Paper " The Dayton Daily" that there is finally discussion in our state government to change it.
I looked at the DDN online and the story isn't in it or I wouldve posted it too.

[CBR]

25. This is so absurd and wrong. Repeal DADT! nt