House Proceeding 10-06-09 on Oct 6th, 2009 :: 3:19:15 to 3:23:45
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3:19:11 to 3:19:31( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: did we really mean it? that all us are created equal. i think we all are warriors at least that much. thank you. mr. murphy: i thank the gentleman from illinois. those stories, those personal stories of our heroes that wrote to you are very powerful and very moving. i will tell you, since i took

3:19:15 to 3:23:45( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Patrick Murphy

3:19:32 to 3:19:56( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: over the leadership of repealing don't ask, don't tell by enacting the military readiness enhancement act, i've gotten letters from all over the country and from overseas in iraq and afghanistan. and one of those letters that touched my heart and frankly broke my heart was from a soldier in afghanistan. when i served in iraq six years

3:19:57 to 3:20:18( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: ago i had 19 of my fellow paratroopers that gave the ultimate sacrifice. but one of them committed suicide. one of those 19 never made it home to see his family again. but this letter broke my heart because, and you'll see, this hero was dealing with the don't ask, don't tell policy.

3:20:19 to 3:20:39( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: he wroits -- writes, sir, as you know, military spouses and other family members are important parts of the larger team. that is essential for a national defense. but such support is fundamentally closed off to the partners of gay service members. even though these partners

3:20:40 to 3:21:02( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: maybe making exactly the same sack -- may be making the exactly the same sacrifices as their counterparts. gay service members and their partners have to worry that an overheard phe call, an intercepted email or other type of compromised private communication could lead to

3:21:03 to 3:21:23( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: humiliating, career-destroying investigations. this is no way to treat american patriots. i write of these matters from personal experience. when a -- when the 9/11 terrorist attacks other occurred, i was in a serious long-term relationship. the active duty did i after 9/11 put a serious strain on this relationship and the

3:21:24 to 3:21:47( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: relationship fell completely apart during my first deployment to afghanistan in 2003. one of the big factors contributing to soldier suicides is the breakup of seous relationships. this is exactly what i experienced and in the context of a combat zone deployment i can still vividly remember

3:21:48 to 3:22:09( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: sitting alone in afghanistan, cradling my government-issued pistol in my hands and fighting the urge to blow my own brains out. what made that personal struggle in afghanistan particularly difficult was the isolation that was imposed on me as a consequence of the

3:22:10 to 3:22:30( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: don't ask, don't tell policy. a straight soldier in a similar state of crisis could go to his commander, his first sergeant, or his battle buddy for support. but if i as a gay soldier had gone to my commander with the details of my situation he would have been obligated to start the process of kicking me

3:22:31 to 3:22:52( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: he out of the army -- kicking me out of the army. the don't ask, don't tell policy is wrong. i say this not just as an individual soler, but also as someone with extensive experience as both a platoon leader and a company commander. what i've -- when i've been in such leadership spogs -- positions, hiveb straight soldiers share with me some of

3:22:53 to 3:23:14( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: the most shockingly intimate details about their personal lives. i was glad that these straight soldiers put their trust in me because i was able to y are a each one the counsel or moral support that he or she needed at that time. gay soldiers should also have that right to go to a commder, to go to a first

3:23:15 to 3:23:35( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: sergeant, to go to their battle buddy and not have toer worry about the ram financial -- have to worry about the ramifications of don't ask, don't tell. the policy shackles the hands of leaders like me. it prevents us from giving all of our troops the supportive leadership they deserve. the don't ask, don't tell

3:23:36 to 3:23:45( Edit History Discussion )

Patrick Murphy: policy throws up walls between battle it is an ugly stain on our naonal honor. end quote.