LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Why America Must Honor ALL Veterans |
by Patricia and Wally Kutteles |
This fight is personal. A year ago, our son Barry was attacked and killedviciously beaten with a baseball batby fellow soldiers in the United States Army. Their reason? They thought Barry was gay, and so they beat him while he was asleep. We are appalled that our military lets cowards like that serve in its ranks, but discharges brave lesbians, gays and bisexuals who wish to serve their country. The Pentagon needs to rethink its priorities. It is time for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass" to end. This policy is a lie. It forces service members to lie to their friends about who they are under penalty of expulsion. This policy is also an excuse. It is an excuse to abuse and harass men and women who protect our country. Our son Barry was a good soldier who was proud to serve his country. Even among the very best of the 101st Airborne, Barry was considered an exceptional soldier. Whatever his sexual orientation, it did not diminish his capability as a gunner. Bigotry and intolerance at Fort Campbell, Kentucky did. Our son was killed on American soil by an American soldier. That is disgraceful. We stand proudly alongside the many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans who have served our country honorably. Solidarity is more important than ever. Our nation's military is in fragments, torn apart by federally sanctioned discrimination. On this holiday, America must honor all of her veterans if we ever wish to mend the torn fabric of military bases where our sons and daughters are killed while they sleep. We hope the Pentagon will join us. The Department of Defense, in its own study, found that 80% of service members surveyed had seen or witnessed some form of harassment during the past year. We should all, as American citizens, be concerned. The time has come for accountability in the nation's armed forces. A commander's job is to take care of his or her soldiers. All soldiers. A commander who does not hold soldiers responsible for their actions is simply not doing his or her job. The Pentagon must learn to play by its own rules. "Do what I say, not what I do" doesn't work in the military. Commanders must set an example for their soldiers to follow. There is hope. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) is working hard to improve the lives of our men and women in uniform, and is a leader in the fight to overturn this policy. Just this year, they have obtained a thirteen-point plan to curb harassment in the ranks, and have successfully obtained, through an Executive Order by President Clinton, limited psychotherapist privileges for service members and recognition of military hate crimes based on sexual orientation. SLDN also led the fight to reveal what really happened at Fort Campbell. When the Army told us Barry's death was the result of a "physical altercation" in the barracks, SLDN came to Kentucky, did its own investigation, and brought the facts surrounding his murder to light. Again and again, SLDN stands as a source of light for military members hurt by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass." Without them, we may have never known the truth. Just recently, we received Barry's belongings from the Armya year after his death. Barry's items were thrown into a cardboard box. A medal he worked so hard to earn was sticking out of the side; it could have easily slipped out while being handled by the post office. The Army did about as good a job caring for his things as they did caring for his life. Among the things we found in that box was a card from SLDN that lists a service members' rights under the policy. Say nothing. Sign nothing. Get legal help. It was probably the most valuable thing Barry could have had. We just wish he would have called that number. As a soldier, Barry had few people to turn to for protection. As parents, we thank you for caring, and ask you to help those who are the targets of military intolerance. Write your elected officials, call the Pentagon, and let them know: It is time for this policy to go. Our military must become whole. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 15, Nov. 22, 2000. |