On the heels of reports that the U.S. military is lowering its standards to meet recuiting goals, including signing up felons and senior citizens, comes this story from the Denver Post that the U.S. Army is sending wounded and injured soldiers back to Iraq and Afghanistan rather than allowing openly gay service members into the ranks.
In e-mails obtained by the Denver Post, reporter Erin Emory reveals that soldiers at Ft. Carson, Colo., who were designated not medically fit were sent to war despite their injuries, in order that the Army could meet its 'deployable strength' goals.
One of the soldiers, Master Sgt. Denny Nelson, who was sent overseas last month, despite doctors' orders that he not run, jump or carry more than 20 pounds, told the newspaper that he was one of at least 52 soldiers deployed who should not have been.
'There were two soldiers deployed with a torn rotator cuff. Another soldier was sent overseas who had mental-health issues, and another suffered from nerve damage to his groin area and had been taking morphine for seven months. When that soldier went to a clinic in Iraq to ask for more pain medication, medical professionals said he could not have it and he was sent home,' said Nelson.
At a time when the military is fighting two wars simultaneously, when recruiting is difficult, when standards are being lowered and injured soldiers are being sent off to war, why is Congress still not allowing gay military personnel to serve? Why is 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' still the law?
Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is not about giving into the whims of the gay community. Repeal means allowing gay soldiers to serve so that straight soldiers do not have to deploy on a third or fourth tour of duty. Repeal means giving every sailor and airman the chance to serve next to law abiding men and women rather than next to a felon. Repeal means that we can give senior citizens the opportunity to enjoy their retirement and allow wounded servicemen and women that chance to heal before sending them back to the frontlines. Repeal means having a better, stronger, more capable military that can take on the challenges of defending America by allowing our very best and brightest the chance to serve.
Click here to email your representative and tell them that enough is enough, the time has come to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'
Victor Maldonado is the senior communications associate for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network ( SLDN ) . His viewpoint first appeared on SLDN's Web site, www.sldn.org .