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[0:05] ..." tell policy originally written into. Military regulations during the administration of president Bill Clinton. It's been that long that the don't ask don't tell policy he's been on the books and there have been lots of questions about it since the very beginning. Joining us this morning is someone who used to be in the United States marine corps staff sergeant. Eric Alva who left the military and because of his his sexual orientation. Eric -- good morning want"...
[0:52] ..." a logistical compliment their tanks and Marines. Issue with the city of Basra and outside that city was stopped at a profit -- as it by air. Well let it rest area where we get"...
[6:10] ..." the people coming in the military from you know college and high school at experience having. You know homosexual roommates her you know people want but -- seen an icicle there best friend is that"...
[0:00]" For the first time in years. Members of congress are going to examine the don't ask don't tell policy originally written into. Military regulations during the administration of president Bill Clinton. It's been that long that the don't ask don't tell policy he's been on the books and there have been lots of questions about it since the very beginning. Joining us this morning is someone who used to be in the United States marine corps staff sergeant. Eric Alva who left the military and because of his his sexual orientation. Eric -- good morning want to WBZ. Very well thank you tell us what happened with you."
[0:37]" So. -- story it was you know at certain marine corps her first on occurred in. I'm -- first 2003 at the beginning. Operation Iraqi freedom when we exceed the the forces crossed over from Kuwait into Iraq at a logistical compliment their tanks and Marines. Issue with the city of Basra and outside that city was stopped at a profit -- as it by air. Well let it rest area where we get to make sure we were ready to go -- resistance went but it -- city. It's that my vehicle. Want -- a second act it is by another vehicle and -- I'm and we rented supermarkets -- department and -- occurring. On the Eric I'm might wind beneath my Marty canary and missed free meals and I battery because and in when -- attacked again and it was so while it is warming up each about to -- steps going back to my vehicles that -- distort the opening act triggered by. -- it was critical thing to me about NC my hearing and gripping my right -- not realizing what happens now octane. I acted in my house screaming and -- Mine has broken with severe nerve damage that it was broken in mind at -- later earned. -- later on at once back in Kuwait city beat -- because we goes back at that time I mean inning when getting kidnappers. He ate there we were happy to be back. Back to Kuwait it was aired nightly we wake up hours later. When -- pop it back I -- in my Rite Aid in the amputees. Become and only been directly. -- about three hours or -- three hours."
[2:21]" you doing your duty -- wounded in action and eligible obviously for purple heart. So the question is why were you forced out of the marine corps."
[2:31]" Well and I -- you know at opportunity they in brick you know in net benefit that question that people stubbornly at mean and I I appreciate that. Credit they didn't you know but that someone. I get everything perspective on. As a you know the the first time in in history did you know several refugees can return to. The battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq an amputee."
[2:52]" In -- military history but for me at the basket. You know like I couldn't finish up another eight years now I I -- to really -- a -- that night was exactly you know. Not being -- myself and having an opportunity to be quite wise and maybe prime you know the person I went to act within -- every into the in my lately it was a huge. News you know tactic experience. No human beings either practical or. But you know you go llama like that and I want to live a happy I've been in part that was to be able to -- Latin. I kept their retirement. But by -- so in it would have been. But it instills stressful for the sack prime it may even during previous commitment because that always came -- that -- like to keep doing it. Any appetite you are mean -- get you those stock in image of women in this country should act to make the decisions when it comes good jobs."
[3:44]" Windiz you decided to come out there wasn't it was to -- accepting. Disability retirement ward. If you do which is saying is. Did the Marines didn't force you -- decided on year old that you wanted to live as a gay man and so you accepted the retirement."
[4:02]" Correct look at it -- it imports and -- last year and not every 282002. Options that are actually here in the -- and I -- congressman -- and and -- mr. -- introduced to military rating at an act and I I I just I found it needs -- song -- where would it serve my country in different capacity. For someone that sacrifice for this country in instead -- and yet at the scene. Equal opportunity and it went out and it's kind of ironic and -- I've felt the need did speak out. Using my notoriety to an extent you know people need to make an example of the diverse. Culture and nation that we sat certain people orientation gender and identity air rate that you name it. Every morning -- packages -- to be treated equally regardless of -- they are in no repercussions whatsoever. Of ever hearing you know being oppressive. In their -- any subsequent you know consequences because of just who they are -- we we can't do that anymore we can't."
[5:06]" the Marines for more than a decade. Did your homosexuality. Aside from the inner turmoil that it is you've expressed because you when you were free enlistment -- preventative effect you were. A function as well and did any of your fellow Marines --"
[5:23]" Steal my column about it and -- and AMI seeking entry and I became got out three of my mind I'm very bright sun. I mean there there -- sports and it became their product. It -- art job. Is as Marines accomplishing the mission. You know it just it was something. My ultimate goal which I accomplished in life was to become a marine he acted --"
[5:46]" But the military's you know Eric says that. Men living close proximity to each other will have morale problems if Warner more of them is a homosexual."
[5:58]" You know. Speaking years ago -- years we've had time to change you know unit cohesion he is no where near -- from around. Being what it it was fifteen years ago people have at times ejecting generations change -- the people coming in the military from you know college and high school at experience having. You know homosexual roommates her you know people want but -- seen an icicle there best friend is that he's collecting people's minds and that. -- choose to accept you know certain groups of people and TV he. That -- because we should even be certain I don't or group which god has been you know patriotic Americans and people who should be able to live. Like in the country -- and in and mean. Upper one someone that sacrificed a -- a direct no one count my happiness and it would be -- for people are different witnesses. -- in this country. You know what I did receive the purple heart. -- so I mean it it you know. Unit cohesion is only going to be here. You know when one person did not -- following along with that went out and eat Gator straighter her she's scared straight and their disruptive because outages are belligerent don't want follow orders. To disrupt the cohesion. Because it's just someone -- is being very difficult enough money to comply with -- military really that even corporate America someone who doesn't want to. You know BA team player that disrupted unit cohesion not the person you know orientation or gender or in any."
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