Darren Manzella gets discharged from the Army
By Steve Benen Thursday Jun 26, 2008 4:00pmIn December, “60 Minutes” ran one of my favorite “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” stories, featuring Army Sgt. Darren Manzella, who’d been deployed twice during the war in Iraq. During his first deployment, Manzella, a medic with a field artillery unit in Baghdad, earned a combat medal for rendering treatment under fire. “I’ve treated everything from blast injuries to gunshot wounds,” he told Leslie Stahl.
As Cholene Espinoza, an Air Force Captain who flew combat missions, explained, “Darren is in a critical field. He’s a medic. His commander needs him. He’s a known quantity. He gets along with others. He does what he’s supposed to. He goes above and beyond. Why do I want to lose Darren?”
The Army didn’t want to lose Darren, which is precisely why he was told to go back to work.
That is, until this week, when he was discharged. Pam Spaulding has the story.
I'd just add one thing: John McCain recently said gay people in the military represent an “intolerable risk” to unit morale, cohesion, and discipline.
I’m curious. Which poses the great risk, Manzella being deployed and serving honorably, or Manzella not being deployed?
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"Sgt. Darren Manzella is phony soldier"
~Rush Drugbaugh, June 2008
As far as i am concerned all the soldiers should claim gayness and get discharged.
Don't Ask Don't Tell helped my friend get out of service when the Air Force started going back on the promises they made when they recruited her.
The military is run by just a bunch of damn idiots, if you ask me.
I'll never understand why a gay person would decide to fight for a country that will not fight for them.
pete @ 4:
I have gay and lesbian friends who wonder the exact same thing
samdog @ 2:
was just about to say the same, if i was in the military i would come out of the closet, whats worse ? potentially die fighting in a war based on lies and for corporate greed, or letting a few people believe you're gay ?
More proof that McGrampa didn't serve enough active duty time to realize how unequivocally wrong he is on this issue.
The army enjoying their homosexual discharge.
Sounds like a dirty joke there somewhere.
ysbaddaden @ 8:
Perv
McCain said that in 2007, big deal. He's flipped and flopped a dozen times since then.
But somehow I bet he's come back to being agin' it--the better to pander to (who he believes is) his base (how aptly named).
Why is the military so homophobic? Israel and many other countries let openly gays and lesbians serve. Is it because of the rampant Christianity being forced down the soldiers throat? There have benn many stories about Jewish soldiers being mistreated because of their faith. My God, what is this country coming down too? I thought all Americans regardless of their faith and sexuality were free!
McCranky's remark is very telling....about another superstition or weak-kneed outlook. Twenty four nations have open policy, including supposed bad asses Israel:
David Saranga, a former IDF officer and now Israel’s consul for media and public affairs in New York said, "It's a non-issue... You can be a very good officer, a creative one, a brave one and be gay at the same time."
Sounds like he has more sympathy for wife-beaters, based on his humor lately.
JudyLou @ 10:
Good point. I'm sure since then he has flip-flopped and stated that homosexuality should be part of boot camp training.
You know this shit needs to be put on the back burner , because according to whatreallyhappen.com , prisonplanet.com or rawstory.com and many others , the U.S. is building FOUR BASES on the Iraq / Iran border , " with remote controlled" missile launchers and radar .
They even admit it won't be manned by U.S. personnel , so you know they expect reprisal and its in preparation for the ATTACK on Iran and they also include satellite photos to back up the story .
Chaos is about to hit the middle east and the united states according to the Bush Regime actions and when gas hits 10 bucks a gallon , there will be chaos in the streets . We are looking at some BAD TIMES coming , real ,real bad times .
Letsee here; Alexander the Great was bi, Frederick the Great was gay as was Richard the Lion hearted; Colin Campbell was a life long bachelor... I wonder if McLame ever told Richard Lion-Heart that he was an intolerable risk? Seeing as how McLame is still alive (possibly) I guess not.
pete @ 4:
for the same reason Andrew whatever's his name continues to support the Republican cause though he is an avowed homosexual and that party cannot tolerate him or his kind, or Black people who belong to the republican party when that party will only use them and then discard as rubbish. difficult to understand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBjFxBktgYY
remember general keith kerr during the debates..........this is just more hate/religous b.s. ...
pete @ 4:
Because things will never change if you do not fight the good fight.
So, let me get this straight. This trained young man was given the heave-ho, while the military is recruitng people with criminal backrounds just to fill their quota? Crap!
Old Billy Hussein @ 3:
I think it's the Peter Principle.
In the British Army there is no problem at all with openly gay men serving. I believe the same would happen if there was such a thing as a Blue State US Army. The idea is ridiculous of course.
*tosses up Blue State secession idea and runs.
P.D. @ 11:
The 'military' isn't homophobic. It's the myopic and scared policy makers who are homophobic. I served with many gays and lesbians in the military. It was widely known by both enlisted and officers who was a homosexual....no one cared. They did their job and often did it better than others because they may have felt they had something to prove. One of our division's best aviation machinist mate (i.e. mechanic) was a lesbian.
Just a quick comment on the photo that goes with the story, here...
That guy in the photo is in the NAVY. Says so right on top of his left cammie pocket.
Aside from that, I agree with what everyone has said, it is stupid to kick people out of the military because of who they love.
So, has the "wet start"/McCain incident been debunked?
.
Leslie uses Duncan Hunter(R-KKK) as the go-to man on the subject.
LOL
And Hunter(R-KKK) uses the fortitude, of lack there of(depends on how you see it) of other countries governments inability to back up the aggressions of the USA as his evidence that gays in the military make their militaries weak and a bunch of sissies... Like it's the troops of those governments that refused to back the aggressions of the USA... Sure Duncan(R-KKK).
Could it be that other countries who refuse to back up the aggressions of the USA do so based on principles, not the gayness of their military?
What's sad is that Leslie didn't confront Hunter(R-KKK) on this... did she?
.
Mickxotic @ 15:
So was (allegedly) Prinz Eugen (Eugene of Savoy), who commanded the troops of the Holy Roman Empire along side of the Duke of Marlborough, as was (also, allegedly), General von Steuben, Washington's de facto chief of staff and drillmaster of the Continental Army during the Revolution
Mickxotic @ 15:
Or maybe he should talk to the Sacred Band or the warriors of Sparta. >:O
Danny C @ 18:
Danny,
What's the good fight?
Fighting for Freedoms, Rights and Liberties NOT afforded to you?
Someday I hope this country wakes up to the corupt influence the so-called christian right has on us and finds a nice little radioactive atoll or island and ships their arses to it. Let them play "Lord of the Flies" with each other until they kill each other off.
Goddamn bunch of Pilgrims running this country into the ground.
Jo @ 29:
I think they have decided to make North America the atoll.
Don't believe me?
America is full of atolls.
So, what exactly is Duncan Hunter's point? Because America goes into firefights, gays will not be able pull the trigger the same way as a heterosexual?
Great "reporting" 60 minutes.....glad you really decided to debunk Hunter's rant.
P.D. @ 11:
Wow where to start. As a 20 year veteran I can tell you that there are many homosexuals serving in the military.
The problem, as with all things "gay", is with the repressed homosexuals; the vocal and "righteous" 3% of the 10% who can't handle what they are and spread fear and loathing.
Most guys in the service don't give a rats ass as long as someone can do the job and is trustworthy.
When homosexuality is rightly viewed as a normal Human condition and is taught as such in society and schools we will move forward as a society, country and species.
xoites defends Constitution @ 30:
Sadly, you are correct. I just wish we could be a civilized country in this 21st century. Instead these right-wing wackos are pushing us back to the stone age.
xoites defends Constitution @ 30:
Indeed, it is a done deal .......... and to think how many guns are in the country ...... history has shown what to do.
Oh no, that's right go back to the coma with your iPods and Paris Hiltons ........
pete @ 4:
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country"
I supposed that still means something to a few Americans ............ who aren't bitching about the price of gas and have no clue what is going on in the world and want to do something, or are forced into the military though economic strife.
Then again, wanting to be in the US army is questionable in the first place, might as well join black water and do the same job for 6 times the pay.
Jo @ 33:
Indeed, I have some guests in Vancouver BC (as I am a temp guest before moving onto New Zealand) at the moment up from California and they can't believe how good it is here, or what is shown on international news etc. Let alone the rest of the story ........ !
pete @ 4:
For a really awesome look at this very idea, see the Prince Myshkins' lyrics for LET ME INTO THE MILITARY. Too, too droll.
Jo @ 33:
It seems to me they are pushing us forward into the electronis identification age where all politics, sexual tendencies, religious beliefs and genetic history are known and have consequences. Consequences that they want to control.
typo alert@ 37 *electronic
xoites defends Constitution @ 37:
You are so right. And that is so my worst nightmare.
Oh, i forgot "whereabouts."
I do find it curious that McCain says such a thing about dirty bum-boys serving in the military. No less an authority than Winston Churchill reportedly described the Navy as "rum, sodomy and the lash". Perhaps this is why McCain finished so low in his class at the training academy. It was only his stellar performance on the "rum" and "lash" parts that saved him when he completely flunked the "sodomy" module. Well, that and his family connections, obviously.
As Filipe@21 states, the British army has let gaiety run rampant since (I think) 1997, and it doesn't seem to have infringed on anyone's ability to bomb the everloving crap out of foreigners. Some would point to the fact that America still leads the world there, but we must remember about America's "more gigantic and awesome weapons than you" defence policy and how it factors in.
pete @ 4:
Same a gay person or a black person voting for a Republican I guess.
I woould be pretty bitter about myself.
Embittered & Anti-Republicrat - Max-Hussein-1 @ 28:
Quite the contrary. How do you think those liberties were won for minorities and women? Not by giving up nor non-participation. Gays in the military have many reasons to serve, just as straight people do.. rather insulting to suggest that they decided to fight in the military for the sole purpose of serving just the ignorant few.
Homosexuality was rampant throughout the ancient Greek and Roman armies. The Spartans believed that women were for procreation and men were for recreation. The Spartans were also considered to be some of the fiercest, best trained, and most cohesive fighters in the ancient world. Homosexuality has nothing to do with how well one will fight or how brave one is. Just as there are no atheists in the foxholes, sexual preference doesn't matter on the battlefield.
Homophobia at its best. Preventing qualified people from doing critically important jobs because some fool thinks they might hit on them and get everyone upset. How is this any different than having heterosexual men and women serving together?
Wow, more intollerable nonsense from the bullshit right! I always say: they should be ashamed of themselves...but a Republican has no morals and no values so they could not have shame.
Just one nit to pick, Darren is either a Navy Corpsman or a Marine. That's a Marine uniform he's wearing.
mccain is a bigot, a racist, a homophobic asshole, dumps his disabled
spouse, and then replaces her with a wealthy whore.
and why do we want him for president?
the answer is--WE DON'T
samdog @ 2:
Ive been saying this for years. Why DON'T they? Seriously!
mystic @ 49:
Many have.
P.D. @ 11:
I didn't know that about Jewish soldiers, but if true, and there's no reason to doubt that anti-Semitism has NOT been eradicated, wouldn' that make Jewish soldiers a threat to cohesion also?
Same goes for African -Americans or any one other than a white straight anglo-saxon person? The whole don't ask don't tell thing is ridiculous. Remember when the army fired all those valuable gay linguists?
Danny C @ 43:
Sorry, I still didn't understand what "The Good Fight" is?
Usually that is meant to describe "Moral" victories... not oppressive cultures.
The moral victory has yet to be won against an oppressive culture of DADT.
I'm in agreement with Pete.
Just what Rights, Freedoms and Liberties is the military fighting for when they can't honor the Rights, Freedoms, and Liberties of one of their own?
Maybe we're in agreement, maybe not.
Because to me, that "good fight" isn't about letting an oppressive culture dictate what is and isn't good.
That "good fight" isn't fought in a closet and currently the military demands it be kept there. THAT is the injustice.
EWA @ 32:
The last paragraph is not necessary. 24 countries round the world allow gays in the military. US and Trkey are the only two NATO countries that do not, and Turkey will almost certainly drop the ban if allowed into the EU. All
told, the US is one of the most bigoted countries in the woirld. That goes for other bigotries also, besides homophobia. Everyone hates everyone. And we love torture also.
mystic @ 53:
If the US was not the 8 ton tyrannosaur in the room, then I would agree with you.
Intolerance and narrow-mindedness. One of the reasons our country is failing so very quickly. The U.S. was once the most powerful and most wealthy countries in the world, but yet one of the least socially progressive. Our country is being run by people who refuse to let go of antiquated values in the face of a changing world. One day the Government is going to need each and every one of it's citizens, but all they will get will be silence and indifference because so many years were spent alienating so many.
9 Dr. (Fast Eddie Hussein) Matt Says: ysbaddaden @ 8:
The army enjoying their homosexual discharge.
Sounds like a dirty joke there somewhere.
Perv
__________________________________________________________
Thanks, but I'd only deserve that accolade if I succeeded in making a dirty joke.
Here in Canada we let them marry right on the and army base
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Canadian_military_hosts_first_gay_military_w...
Here in Canada we let them marry right on the army base
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Canadian_military_hosts_first_gay_military_w...
yeah... you never know when, after saving your life, he might give you a kiss and a blow job......
.............................better you should die.... and let those nazi necrophiliac neo-cons screw you in the dead ass
....but i digress....
Former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA) was the instigator of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". He is on Barack Obama's shortlist for VP. He actually initiated the legislation before any Republican did. He and Bob Dole worked together to make sure that those homos didn't take showers with real men. Bob Dole was worried that other men would see his erection in the shower. That is the only place he can get an erection and he simply can't control him self. He has to use Viagra when Liddy Dole begs him for some.
It is incredibly stupid when they discharge anyone because of grounds of homosexuality, but it probably saved that guys life. Unforturnately, others will probably die because noone else will be there with the same bravery and competence. Again, the christian wrong strikes out. When I am bleeding to death I don't care what someones' sexual desires are---what a bunch of losers.
This nation is so fu*king sick!
That brainwashed idiot says, military personnel are conservative? Oh really? He's speaking from his political point of view and its all a fairy tale.
Well Ive been in the military and trust me, the personnel are more liberal than he thinks.
FreeRepublic responds: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037626/posts
Big ole fag Mz Hunter is living in a right wing fantasy world.
sciguy @ 45:
*BAM* Exactly!!
And while people like him are discharged they're trying to force IRR soldiers who openly object to the war to ship over.
Which is worse for morale and cohesion again?
why does John McCain hate Mary Cheney?
When John McCain was his age, he was making propaganda films for the enemy.
I don't get that subset of my gender that thinks they're soooo irresistible that gay men just won't be able to keep their hands off the merchandise. This same subset makes up a high proportion of the military, I'm sure.
face it folks we do'nt NEED any army , period
another false flag attack another war and maybe you'll forget about the $7 a gallon gas
The right to bear arms has it's origins in the Founder's desire to avoid having a standing military.
Why is it that we don't allow soldiers to simply quit their jobs when they don't want to do it anymore?
I mean, according to the mainstream media and the politicians, all service members are brave and courageous, so why would we have to worry about them deserting the battlefield when things get too dicey?
Gay, not gay, who cares? I say, get out however you can. Besides, I don't want anyone fighting a war for ME who doesn't want to. I only want motivated soldiers for MY military.
How about this? I have absolute, utter faith, that every single one of you pot-smoking, tree-hugging, solar-power-car-owning, died-in-the-wool LIBERALS, would stand to your death on the field of battle... for a cause that you truly believed in.
But war isn't about fighting for a cause. It's about BULLSHITTING enough men and women into joining a GANG, so that some wealthy elite can STEAL another nation's wealth.
If we truly had a "voluntary" military, then the members of that military would be allowed to "voluntarily" leave whenever they wanted, but that's not we handle things in this country. Kinda like our "voluntary" income tax system...
But how is ganging up on Iraq any different than you people ganging up on me, the individual, the largest minority in the world, with your VOTES, to try and force me to pay taxes into any of your pet-projects?
The very instant that you begin talking about government, and what it can DO for "the people", you're throwing volunteerism out the window. Collectivism is the problem. Forcing people to do something because you have more in your gang is not the answer, it's just the way things have always been done.
Good luck Mr. Manzella.
Ron Paul 2008.
when I was in USMC, knew several gay marines(even one in my platoon)
and as far as I can recall, was never an issue or even brought up.
certainly had no effect on the units morale.
I think that any human Straight or gay is worth something in the end simply for risking his life to save his home. Doesn't sound any different than a father protecting his family or Jesus protecting us from the devil. Just because people hate you and despise who you are doesn't mean you should stop fighting.
People are just scared of change. Is this any different than the persecution of the blacks, mexicans, jews, and all other groups throughout history. And for the deeply religious i dont see this affecting your journey to heaven unless you believe that.
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