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Eric Alva, the first American soldier wounded in the war against Iraq has come out of the closet about being gay. On March 21, 2003, Alva stepped on an Iraqi landmine. He part of his right leg in the explosion and now lives with a prosthetic leg.

Now Alva has continued his heroic efforts but helping to overturn the military’s current ban on openly gay soldiers serving their country.

From an email to Human Rights Campaign members:

Three hours into the Iraq War, I was in charge of 11 U.S. Marines on a logistical convoy when I stepped on an Iraqi landmine outside my Humvee vehicle and became the first American wounded in the Iraq War. The explosion was so powerful it blew me to the ground ten feet away and took off part of my right leg. I can still remember the ringing in my ears from the blast.

I spent months in rehabilitation where I was visited by President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. I was recognized by the military for my service and received a Purple Heart award. I was also interviewed by several major newspapers and magazines and I made numerous TV appearances, including on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Yet despite all the attention and focus on my life, today is the first time I have publicly talked about my sexuality in relation to my military service.

To be honest, each time I was commended on my courage, I couldn’t help but remember how scared I was that I would be found out as gay and kicked out of the military. I remember the fear I felt when people around me in the military started debating the new “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy even before it became law. Still, my proudest moments during my 13 years in the military came when I would confide in one of my friends about my sexual orientation and they would still treat me with the same respect as before.

There is now justification for the continued discrimination against men and women who who happened to be gay or lesbian and want to serve. Thousands of dedicated soldiers have been kicked out of the military in recent years including desperately needed foreign language specialists. The military has recently lowered its own standards to allow recruits with drug offenses, etc to enlist, yet continue throw well-qualified soldiers because they happen to be gay. This is ridiculous and has to stop. Congress must pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act as quickly as possible.