"In Memoriam..."

Darren Manzella in Iraq

Darren Manzella - War Hero And Civil Rights Activist Dead

From SLDN:

"The Iraq war veteran was the first openly gay active duty service member to speak with the media while serving inside a war zone....Manzella, 30, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 and was twice deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While under fire on the streets of Baghdad, he provided medical care to his fellow soldiers, Iraqi National Guardsmen and civilians. He was awarded the Combat Medical Badge, and also received several other awards recognizing his courage and service."

Darren tirelessly and boldly spoke out against DADT.  As a result of his activism, he was discharged from the Army when on national television, Manzella challenged the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, becoming the face of gay servicemen and women before being discharged in 2008 for publicly discussing his sexual identity.

Darren, who married in July of this year and had recently joined the Army Reserve, was killed in a highway traffic accident in Pittsford, NY on Thursday.

"Fear Eats The Soul"

H/T: Towleroad