Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Sgt. Robert Stout, I salute you and the sacrifice you made of your body and mind in this unjust and illegal war in Iraq. I thank you for serving as your country asked no matter how wrong it is for you to be there.

Military and government brass of the USA, I am ashamed of you. A man's religion, beliefs, station in life, like, dislikes and his sexual preference do not preclude him from loving his country and serving it. Shame on you. Shame, Shame, Shame on you.

May 31, 2005

Associated Press

CINCINNATI - An Army sergeant from Ohio who was wounded in Iraq and wanted to remain in the military as an openly gay soldier was officially discharged Tuesday, according to an advocacy group.

Sgt. Robert Stout, 23, was awarded the Purple Heart after a grenade sent shrapnel into his arm, face and legs while he was using a machine gun on a Humvee in May 2004.

Stout, of Utica in central Ohio, told The Associated Press in April that he wanted to remain in the military and be openly gay, but that would conflict with the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.