|
Statement
by Twenty Eight Retired Generals and Admirals
Calling for Lifting the Ban
November 30th, 2007
"We respectfully urge
Congress to repeal the "Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell" policy. Those of us signing this letter
have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of
our citizens to believe whatever they wish. As General
Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said
when the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy
was enacted, it is not the place of the military or
those in senior leadership to make moral judgments.
Scholarly data show
that there are approximately one million gay and
lesbian veterans in the United States today, as well
as 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving in our
armed forces. They have served our nation honorably.
We support the
recent comments of another former Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs, General John Shalikashvili, who has
concluded that repealing the "Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell" policy would not harm, and would
indeed help, our armed forces. As is the case in
Britain, Israel, and other nations which allow gays
and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are
professionals who are able to work together
effectively despite differences in race, gender,
religion, and sexuality. Such collaboration reflects
the strength and the best traditions of our democracy."
Lieutenant General
Jerry Hilmes; Branch: Army
Vice Admiral Harold
Koenig; Branch: Navy; Field: Medical
Vice Admiral James
Zimble, Midlothian, VA; Branch: Navy; Field: Medical
Major General Leslie
Burger, Vancouver, WA; Branch: Army; Field:
Medical
Major General
Alexander Burgin, Salem, OR; Branch: Army NG; Field:
Artillery
Major General
Michael Conrad, McLean, VA; Field: Infantry
Major General James
Delk, Fair Oaks, CA; Branch: Army; Field: Medical
Major General Jack
Farris, New Jersey; Branch: Air Force; Field: Aviation
(pilot)
Major General Fred
Forster, Tennessee; Field: Aviation
Major General David
Hale, Hampton Bays, NY; Field: Combat
Major General Randy
Jayne, McClean, VA; Branch: Air NG; Field: Aviation
(pilot)
Major General Dennis
Laich, Dublin, OH; Branch: Army; Field: Military
Police
Major General Dennis
Malcor, Vine Grove, KY; Branch: Army; Field: Combat
Major General
Michael Scotti*, Arlington, VA; Branch: Army; Field:
Medical
Major General Harry
Sieben, Minnesota; Branch: Army and Air NG
Rear Admiral William
Retz; Branch: Navy
Brigadier General
Clara Adams-Ender, Woodbridge, VA; Branch: Army;
Field: Medical
Brigadier General
Dale Barber, Waverly, NY; Branch: Army; Field:
Infantry Engineer
Brigadier General
Harold Bowman, Pleasant Hill, IA; Branch: Army NG;
Field; Medical
Brigadier General
Douglas Bradley, Diablo, CA; Branch: Army; Field:
Medical
Brigadier General
William Colvin; Branch: Army NG
Brigadier General
Bob Hardy; Branch: Army
Brigadier General JD
Johnson, Salt Lake City, UT; Branch: Army
Brigadier General
Phil Peay, Utah; Field: Engineering
Brigadier General
Robert Poirot, Evergreen, CO; Branch: Army; Field:
Artillery
Brigadier General
Philip Pushkin, Randallstown, MD; Branch: Army NG
Brigadier General
Donald Schenk, Troy, MI; Branch: Army; Field: Combat
Systems
Brigadier General
Daniel Wardrop, Williamsburg, VA; Field: Artillery
*General Scotti passed away in September, 2007 after
agreeing to sign onto this statement. His widow has
requested that he remain on the statement.
source: www.hrc.org
|
