President Obama: Promise kept to gay Iraq Vets

By Luiza Fritz

I learned not long after I joined that there’s much more to military service than duty to country. I made it my mission to serve my fellow soldiers as well as they served me. And after deploying twice to Iraq, my biggest regret is the moment I was forced to remove my uniform and leave my team behind in a warzone.

I love the Army, and I was determined to be a career soldier. I shipped off to basic training three days after I graduated high school.

During my unit’s second tour in Iraq, I was discharged because I’m a lesbian.

But I’ve always been a soldier first. My Army colleagues knew that, and my Commander-in-Chief knew that. Thankfully, no one else will experience my same regret because President Obama’s leadership led to the full repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – which he signed into law one year ago today. Now, I’m fighting to go back to work – not just because of my career, but because my commitment to the Army is driven by duty to my country and service to my fellow soldiers.

The President understands doing away with this discriminatory policy only enhanced our national security. He followed through on his promise to end that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, just as he followed through on his promise to end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home and take care of them once they become veterans.

As the number of American combat forces in Iraq draws down to zero this month, I share President Obama’s deep gratitude for the more than 4,500 Americans who gave their lives, including many gay and lesbian service members. Those who never made it home would be proud to know that today our military upholds the values of diversity that make America great.

Repeal allows our armed forces to maintain the strength we need to fight the threat of terrorism at home and abroad, and now our military is no longer at risk of losing so many experienced hands. I wasn’t the only member of the armed forces discharged after year upon year of taxpayer investment in my training and development. I’m also not the only soldier discharged under DADT who is now seeking reenlistment.

In more than thirteen years with the Army National Guard, my colleagues, my superiors and the forty-two soldiers under my command became a big part of my life. We trained together, we went to war together and we worked hard to stay safe so we could come home together.

President Obama kept his word to bring our troops home and to make the military more closely fulfill our nation’s promise of equality. He’s keeping a third promise, too: to take care of those who have served. He’s leading the fight to get veterans back to work, including taking action to give tax credits to businesses who hire unemployed and disabled veterans. He’s also made college education affordable with the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and he expanded mental health services for combat veterans who need it most.

I know the sacrifice our troops and their loved ones make each and every day, and I thank President Obama for removing the unfair burden once asked of gay and lesbian soldiers. No longer will any member of our volunteer military be forced to lie about who they are or whom they love just to serve the country they love.

I believe in being a soldier first and gay second. Yes, I was born a lesbian. But I was also born a soldier.