Congress Hears Story of Gay Soldier Killed In Action In Iraq

In testimony before Congress on Wednesday, Feb. 24, Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) read a letter on the floor of the House of Representatives from an active duty soldier in Afghanistan, relating the story of a fellow soldier killed in Iraq.

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. 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.”

The soldier originally provided the letter in response to an inquiry for the Pentagon’s current study of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

This is the second publicly known case of a gay soldier killed in action during the current wars in the Middle East. The first was U.S. Army Major Alan Rogers, who died while on patrol in Iraq in January, 2008.

Statisticians have estimated that more than 200 gay and lesbian service members have perished since the onset of the conflict.

“Admiral Mullen said this issue is a matter of integrity," Moran said at the hearings. "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.”