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Author Archives Pepe

I joined the Army in 1999 and headed to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for One-Station Unit Training (OSUT = Basic + AIT) in January 2000. I remained at Fort Sill following training where I was assigned to 2d Battalion, 2d Field Artillery.

In 2001 I was selected as the Soldier of the Year for the United States Field Artillery Center and Fort Sill. Later that year I was promoted to Sergeant (E-5) in Alpha Battery. I served as the driver for the battalion commander and command sergeant major, gunner, assistant chief of section, along with a variety of additional duties.

In 2002 I presented a statement to my battery commander acknowledging my sexual orientation. Following my declaration I received an honorable discharge and have dedicated myself to seeing Don’t ask, Don’t tell repealed.

Many people have asked my why I presented a statement to my commander with full knowledge it would lead to my discharge. It is a difficult question to answer simply so that others may understand. Perhaps the simplest, most direct answer revolves around the idea of Integrity. With that in mind, and the help of friends, I have started this website, IntegrityInService.org.

Michael Goucher, Former Soldier, Hate Crime Victim

This story has really gotten under my skin. Michael Scott Goucher, 21, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was stabbed approximately twenty times and left in the woods.
You can get more details, including video, on the case here and here.
This story bothers me on so many different levels. Michael used internet chat rooms to meet his murderer. […]

Posted 01 April 2009 § Website ‡ Comments (2)

Honesty

It’s late. Nearly midnight. But I had to write this while it was still fresh in my mind.
It’s great being back in my hometown. It’s sort of like my life coming full circle. I think our nation is at one of those moments in history. We have the chance to change things for the better. […]

Posted 23 March 2009 § Website ‡ Comments (1)

Gates Lightens Load for War-Worn Forces

An interesting story from the Christian Science Monitor regarding the recent decision to end stop-loss goes into more detail about other decisions that SecDef Gates and the DoD have made that have made serving in the military a little easier, such as, increasing dwell time, looking into the increased number of suicides, allowing families to […]

Posted 20 March 2009 § Website ‡ Comments (0)

Don’t ask, Don’t tell Applies 24/7

One of the lingering misunderstandings about Don’t ask, Don’t tell is when it applies. A lot of people believe - incorrectly - that it only applies when on duty and/or in uniform. They mistakenly assume that it’s okay for a gay soldier to go home to his boyfriend or partner and go out to clubs […]

Posted 23 February 2009 § Don't ask, Don't tell § US Army § Combat Veterans ‡ Comments (0)

Don’t ask, Don’t tell Affects ROTC Cadets

Here’s a story we haven’t heard in a while: an ROTC cadet being discharged from that program when it was discovered he was gay. It also seems to have motivated others to take action as well.
 Ousted ROTC Student Praised
Komo said within two hours of the article’s publication, more than 30 people looking to take steps […]

Posted 23 February 2009 § Don't ask, Don't tell § US Navy ‡ Comments (0)