Dan Choi Re-Enlisting: Officer Who Fought To Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Aims To Rejoin Army

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: The Huffington Post

Dan Choi, the outspoken gay activist who was discharged from the army for revealing his sexuality, told Politico on Tuesday that he plans to re-enlist in the armed forces now that 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' is no longer law.

Choi, a former army lieutenant who served in Iraq from 2006-2007, became a public face of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' after he came out on 'The Rachel Maddow Show' in 2009. Following that public admission, Choi was discharged from the armed forces under the Clinton-era policy, which forbade gay and lesbian military personnel to disclose their sexual preference before its repeal became official on Tuesday.

“Going back to the military will be a vindication," Choi said. " going back because I fought to go back. The seriousness of our claims was not just political theatre – it was really drawn from our lives. I sacrificed so much so I could go back.”

Choi, who graduated from West Point in 2003 joined "Knights Out," an LGBT alumni group for the school, which he represented during his fateful 'Maddow' appearance. After learning that he would be discharged, he wrote a well-publicized open letter to President Obama, which called his treatment "a slap in the face," made numerous TV appearances, and was arrested and put on trial for his role in a protest in front of the White House.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/dan-choi-re-enlisting-_n_971967.html

[WCGreen]

1. Bravo.....

[TheWraith]

2. I thought he was going to join the Marine Corps?

At least that's what he was doing a few months ago. Changed his mind I guess.

[Ian David]

3. Same thing.

(Ducking for cover).

[Tx4obama]

7. Too old to join the Marines.

That day in NYC a few months ago when he went to enlist in the Marines they told him that he did not fit the age requirements.
So, then he re-enlisted in the Army.
The papers he filled out and filed that day were supposed to be 'on hold' until the DADT repeal went into effect, so I don't understand the purpose of the LBN article - since he already re-enlisted previously and shouldn't have to fill out the papers again.

See link in comment #9.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. It is news because this man, whose actions brought about the

final domino run of to repeal will be able to serve again, as of today, as he rightfully should have all along. As he said, it is vindication for his discharge, his arrest, and all that he went through in order to serve in your nation's military.
Like it or not, he is hero and the most visible face of change in the military. It is important to have such role models to young and old as we go forward to end the injustice that is DOMA, which is still in effect, although several bloggers who wanted to slander Dan Choi tried to push the meme that 'DOMA is no longer enforced' so they could paint Choi and the GLBT community as complaining over nothing, even as those bloggers enjoy rights we do not have. Bob Cesca, whom you posted here, wrote one of those, when confronted he denied he wrote it, when shown his own words he whined like a baby and started in on what Choi and the gays HAVE to do. It is bullshit to do that to anyone, much less to a National symbol of progress and equality.
This addendum is just because of the lousy tactics used against Choi: Barack Obama opposes marriage equality citing the same bullshit religious crapola pushed by Bachmann and Pat Robertson. He is wrong to support such bigotry. Very wrong to oppose equality for some minority group and claim your own kind is better liked by God, no less. It is bullshit that he speaks, and Choi spoke truth to his bullshit.

[Tx4obama]

13. It was news in October 2010 when he filed papers to rejoin the military ...

today it is just rehashed old news.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[Bluenorthwest]

25. Same bullshit religious excuses as Bachmann, that's Obama

What the fuck is 'sanctity'? You tell me what that means in civil law, Mr President. Explain yourself. Defend your shabby position.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

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[Historic NY]

4. What was the Times Square thing he did?

I thought he was accepted as an enlisted man.

[James48]

6. Previously he tried to enlist- but was told to wait.

As the DADT policy was still in effect then.

[Tx4obama]

8. See comment #7. n/t

[James48]

5. To say he is re-enlisting is technically incorrect.

Previously he was an officer. He held a commission. That is different than an enlistment.


Now he is trying to become an enlisted soldier. He previously was not enlisted, therefore he cannot "re-enlist".


Technical point.

Good luck Dan- I wish you well.

[itsrobert]

22. I was about to say the same

Thanks.

[Tx4obama]

9. Choi already submitted papers for the Army back in October 2010 - see videos on link below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4580498

On the link above there are TWO links in the OP for videos from October 2010,
one where he says he was told by the Marines he did not qualify due to age requirements,
and another one where it shows Choi before and after he submitted papers to the Army.
His papers are already there, all he has to do now is wait to be accepted back into the military.

[MadMaddie]

10. I am formally military and for others that have served

Many of the folks that fought against DADT didn't display "Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer". Dan Choi did, he disrepected the Commandor in Chief in public and he also did many questionable actions. I am not sure I support his methods and I don't know if he deserves reinstatement. This has nothing to do with him being gay...this has to do with how he handled himself.

There are many others that worked the system and were honorable in the way they handled themselves and I think they should be reinstated.

Any thoughts?

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Yeah, and Martin Luther King was just some guy with an arrest

record, a trouble maker and a shame to the ministry, I've heard all that bullshit and it is bullshit. Choi's side, my side, we won the battle. So question actions all you want, the objective was attained and in love and war, that is what it is all about. I mean, I know he got all uppity and all. How dare he?
Jesus Christ. at?

[queerart]

34. You Go Get Them Bluenorthwest....

Thank You For This Post.....

[MadMaddie]

36. Again I am not talking about him being Gay

For crying out loud I am gay...

I am asking if as an officer some of his actions were unbecoming?

So no one is allowed to ask questions of someone who is gay....seriously?

[MadMaddie]

35. Last I checked Martin Luther King was not a soldiar but a fine

member of the clergy who walked the walk and talked the talk. Yes he did get arrested for his cause.

Dan Choi took a military oath and that is what I am talking about.

Uppity? Really? I am gay and I was a soldiar so I am asking a valid question.

I asked for opinions not TeaParty attacks....

[Vanje]

43. !!!

Testify!

[boston bean]

17. My thoughts??

What you posted is pretty disgusting.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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[tblue]

19. Maybe President "Look Forward Not Backward" could cut Choi a little slack

like he did for Dick Cheney and the torturers.

I think Choi displayed a lot of leadership and courage. Maybe he can get a medal, like our President gave Bush I.

Just sayin'.

[yardwork]

32. Well said.

[Starry Messenger]

40. +1

[Name removed]

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[EFerrari]

38. What exactly did Dan Choi do that was dishonorable?

He called out cowardice and bigotry.

We used to call that "courage".

[NM Independent]

39. Oh, FFS, really people? I can't believe some of the replies to this post.

How about a "Thank you very f'ing much for your service." and move on, or better yet STFU. If that anti-tea-party-matter spew was all that could escape your mind, then you need to reassess your reality.

So, Thank you very f'ing much for your service, MadMaddie. Thank you for your courage to serve as a gay person, and your patience in sharing that with such arrogant jerks, MadMaddie.

Now, being a civilian from a military family with 45 years of service between father and brother, I have a different perspective. The OATH TAKEN BY MILITARY OFFICERS and ENLISTED MEN AND WOMEN is taken very seriously. It is as much a foundation of their being as anything else.

That being said, I believe there is much room for debate as to whether that oath was violated. I think that debate should be had among those who have taken said oath.

Personally, as a straight person, I fully support equality for all GLBT's. I've changed the perceptions of a few bigots, and I've even campaigned and donated for those causes. I also feel like Dan Choi came across as impetuous and insolent on at least one occasion at a detriment to his cause.

[_ed_]

41. You think he's dishonorable?

"Conduct unbecoming an officer?"

I also served -- as an officer -- and your conclusions are bullshit. This isn't a simple UCMJ violation. He was fighting an unconstitutional policy, which if you remember, is the oath you took when you raised your right hand.

[Name removed]

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[24601]

15. Unrec for shoddy reporting. Officers don't enlist or renlist. Cadets

are appointed and officers (CW2 and up) are commissioned.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

16. Well, my heart is broken, but somehow, I will get over it and move forward.

Copy & Paste. That's how things are done in LBN. Copy & Paste.

[24601]

21. The hit's not yours - it's HP's which probably doesn't have many

staff that have the 1st clue about the military.

[The Doctor.]

28. Pfft... pretty trivial.

To the 'civvies' that's not relevant to the story.

He's 'getting back in', right?

[_ed_]

42. Irrelevant minutiae

And since you think it's so important: Cadets are nominated by a member of Congress, the Pres. or VP, and then appointed to the academy if they meet the further qualifications.

[jmowreader]

46. He's trying to become an enlisted man

This, I think, is totally wrong: The dude is a ring-knocker*, okay? With what We the People have already spent to turn this man into a commissioned officer, I want him serving as one.

* This is the ring awarded to West Point graduates:



Because the Army considers West Point grads to be better than ROTC grads, and ROTC grads better than Officer Candidate School grads or direct commissions when we had those, these rings are used in kind of a dicksizing exercise at the O Club: the wearer of this ring will rap it against the bar top, where it makes a very loud sound, so as to say "I'm better than you."

[rocktivity]

20. Choi has displayed more courage on this issue than any of his superiors did

up to and including his commander-in-chief.

I'm grateful that he's even considering re-joining the military -- they need his brand of leadership.

:applause:
rocktivity

[ZombieHorde]

23. Dan Choi is awesome. nt

[xchrom]

24. Thank you, lt. Choi. Nt

[Kennah]

26. I believe the technical term is reaccession, but who fucking cares?

It's not really essential to the story that discharged enlisted soldiers could re-enlist while discharged officers could re-enter the service through reaccession.

I for one hope Lt. Choi gets back into the service, but more importantly I hope he does whatever the hell he wants to do.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. I believe you are correct. I also believe it is not going to happen

[d_r]

27. great news

I have a lot of respect for him. I wish there was some way to make it up to him and all the others who were discharged.

[Name removed]

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[Vidar]

33. Bravo Lt. Choi!