Major Mike Almy (Photo: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network)
Today Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Carl Levin (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Udall (D-CO) and Roland Burris (D-IL) introduced a bill to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell. Former Air Force Major Mike Almy, a guest on the show tonight, talked about losing his military career under the policy. These are his remarks in full:
"Good morning. My name is Mike Almy, and I'm honored to be here today to tell you a little bit about my time serving in the Air Force under Don't Ask Don't Tell and to make the case for why this law must be repealed.
"I come from a family with a rich history of military service. My father is a West Point graduate, taught chemistry at the Air Force Academy, flew helicopters in Vietnam and ultimately retired as a senior officer from the air force. One of my uncles retired as a master gunnery sergeant from the Marine Corps with service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Another one of my uncles retired from the Army, also with service in Korea.
"Inspired by my family's commitment to public service and serving this great country in the military, I joined the Air Force in 1993 after graduating from Air Force ROTC as a distinguished graduate. When I was discharged because of Don't Ask Don't Tell in 2006, I had attained the rank of major and led a team of nearly 200 men and women whose mission it was to operate and maintain vital command and control equipment. During my career I deployed to the Middle East four times. In my last position in the Air Force, I led those 200 men and women in a deployment to Iraq, where my team came under daily mortar attacks as they were controlling the air space over Iraq. During this deployment I was named one of the top officers in my career field for the entire air force.
"Shortly after I left Iraq, someone in the unit that had replaced mine found my private e-mails that I had written to family and friends in the stress of a combat zone. In Iraq during the height of the insurgency, the Air Force conducted a search of my private e-mails solely to determine if I had violated Don't Ask Don't Tell, and to gather whatever evidence they could use against me. The search was conducted without ever once consulting with a lawer. My private e-mails were forwarded to my commander, who called me into his office and demanded that I give him an explanation. I refused. I told my commander I wouldn't make any statement until I had first spoken with an attorney.
"I was relieved of my duties leading nearly 200 airmen, my security clearance was suspended, part of my pay was terminated, and I was forced to endure a grueling 16-month legal ordeal before I was ultimately discharged from the Air Force. On my final day of active duty I was given a police escort from the base as if I were a common criminal or a threat to national security.
"Don't Ask Don't Tell failed me despite the fact that I lived up to the premises of this law and never disclosed my private, my private life. Never once in my 13-year career did I make a statement to the military that violated Don't Ask, Don't Tell. During the legal proceedings that ensued after I was fired, I had several of my former troops write character reference letters for me. Without fail, every one of these troops had the greatest respect for me as an officer. They all wanted me back on the job as their leader, and they were horrified at how the Air Force was treating me.
"What had a far greater impact on my unit's mission, my unit's cohesion, was the disruption of the mission after I was fired and subsequently replaced by a very junior officer who was not adequately prepared for the job. As a result, the mission suffered.
"To say that this policy is working is to completely discredit my four deployments to the Middle East, my 13-year career as a decorated officer. To say that Don't Ask Don't Tell is [working is] to completely discredit the service of the nearly 14,000 patriotic Americans who have been discharged under this law, the nearly 4,000 who choose not to reenlist each year because they no longer choose to live a lie as they defend our nation, and the untold thousands who never even choose to come into the military because of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
"At a time when our military is stretched thin from two wars, we need the valuable service of every capable American willing to risk their life and to not be discharging people solely because of who they are. I'm outraged that I am now considered unfit for military service, and yet our nation has actively recruited convicted felons and brought them into the service of the military under moral waivers. It is time to strenghten our national defense by no longer wasting the valuable contributions of thousands of patriotic Americans. Repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell will end this discrimination, and America will be stronger and safer as a result.
"I'd like to give a heartfelt thanks to Senators Lieberman and Levin and the rest of the distinguished senators here today for their leadership in repealing this, this discriminatory law. It is long overdue. Thank you."
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I know this is thoroughly inappropriate, but I just need to say .....
Damn, That Michael Almy is a sexy looking/acting man !! If he doesn't have a partner, I'd sure like to apply for the position <grin>. Thanks for having him on !!! ....... On another note, Thanks so much for your show, really enjoy watching it and how you address the various issues and translate them into layman's terms for all us !! Also get a big giggle on how you call all these jerks out on the crap they try to pull and mislead the public with ..... keep up the great work !!!! (and be sure and say Hi to Mike Almy for me <g>) ......... Bruce Abild, Woodland Hills, Ca (los angeles area)
Even before Don't ask don't tell the service kicked out Gays.
I am proof of that I served the USMC 1981-1985.
at age 18 knowing full well that I was Gay, Signed up for the USMC had to Lie when asked to Swear I had never had Homosexual Activities.
I thought what the Hell does that matter I want to serve My Country.
In my 4 year A Fellow Marine and Myself was placed under Military Arrest a long Discharge and hearings took place. Most of My Fellow Marines Stood on my side, but Military Law meant that I could not re inlist and was Discharged 28 days frior to my Discharge date with an Other The Honerable Discharge. People are People Gay or Stright.
Let us Serve with out the Lies.
Hi Marine --- Semper Fi
Sorry about your Separation---- May your life transform into one of a true MARINE...... GO FOR IT. EMAIL ME MARINES 1966-1967 VIETNAM
Hang in there..................
The rules are simple:
a. Tell the truth
b. Always do your best no
matter how trivial the task
c. Choose the difficult right
over the easy wrong
d. Don't whine or make excuses
e. Judge others by their actions
I know many people that are homosexual in the military. All the people that i do know in the services dont talk about being with their fellow army men. U are still an AMERICAN HERO Major.
As a gay vet who wants DADT to be lifted I have to correct something in the story.
Almy states: "Never once in my 13-year career did I make a statement to the military that violated Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Thas is incorrect, the emails he wrote were a violation. The policy says you cannot make ANY statement, not that you cannot make a statement to the military. I think active duty folks tend to gloss over this since they spend so much time around the military. In the Guard you see even though you only serve one weekend and two weeks, you are under DADT 365.
This policy doesn't JUST limit statements to the military, something the pro-DADT forces usually try to have you believe. This policy infects every aspect of gay service members lives, even their personal email accounts should someone stumble on it.
This policy is heinous not because it kicks out people who think they don't violate it, but because nearly no one can live and breath without violating it.
Mike,
I served under you during that period, and will say that your leadership was nothing short of exemplary. Yes, the rumors flew, but we were told to ask no questions, and move on as though nothing had happened--basically, we were ordered to keep our mouths shut.
Shortly after your departure, the solid leadership that you had provided the 606th became a dog and pony show, without any true vision or direction.
Your hard work and strong leadership earned you the highest amount of respect from the men and women that you lead; your sudden departure saddened us all.
I want to thank you for watching over your troops in the 606th, but mostly, sir, for your service to your country.
Sincerely,
TSgt, Kevin W. Bowen, USAF (Ret)
What an amazing thing for you to do Kevin, putting forth your support for this fine man. Hopefully one day soon DADT will be repealed, but unfortunately that won't undo all of the damage that this bit of legislation has caused. When will the persecution of gays and lesbians in America stop? Not soon enough that's for sure! Gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly all over the world. DADT is a blight on America.
Michael is my daughter's Godfather. He is one of the most kind and honest individuals I know. He loves his friends and family, and I am honored and blessed to have had him in my life. He is charitable, and has given his time to religious organizations to benefit and help others in his community. What does our sexual choice have to do with us as a person? I am a hetrosexual that has been married to a couple of men in my life, and they aren;t half the man Michael is. He has given his life for this country as well as for the lives of his fellow soldiers, and I would entrust him with mine and my children's without question. We love you Michael. You are always in my prayers.
Love, Andrea
Michael is my daughter's Godfather. He is one of the most kind and honest individuals I know. He loves his friends and family, and I am honored and blessed to have had him in my life. He is charitable, and has given his time to religious organizations to benefit and help others in his community. What does our sexual choice have to do with us as a person? I am a hetrosexual that has been married to a couple of men in my life, and they aren;t half the man Michael is. He has given his life for this country as well as for the lives of his fellow soldiers, and I would entrust him with mine and my children's without question. We love you Michael. You are always in my prayers.
Love, Andrea
Mike, that photo looks as if it was taken in front of Al-Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Baghdad.
Here's a website dedicated to the Fish in the lake:
http://thefishatalfawpalace.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your service to our country, which continues this month when you shared your story with Congress and the American people.
DADT is a deplorable law which punishes hard working Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines because of the archaic notion that gay and straight people cannot live and work together. There are many gay people that currently serve in the military and are deployed to dangerous areas around the world. This law is a slap in the face to all gay service members who make so many sacrifices for their country.