Eric Alva, first soldier wounded in Iraq, being honored for work against DADT

On Sept. 20, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Eric Alva will be on hand in San Diego to accept his Salute Award personally for his efforts in overturning the government’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) military policy. Alva knows only too well the sacrifices ordinary men and women make in the service of their country, as well as the consequences of being gay in the military.

On March 21, 2003, Marine Staff Sgt. Alva stepped on a landminewhile on active service in Iraq, becoming the first U.S. military casualty in that country’s current war – originally called Operation Iraqi Freedom. The life changing injuries he sustained – broken right arm and badly damaged leg – would result in an amputated leg, a Purple Heart medal and a medical discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. Ultimately though they would be the catalyst for something more – his coming out as gay and his decision to become active in the repeal of DADT.

“My life changed forever. I was now disabled and my career was over,” Alva said. “But getting injured opened my life to a lot of new things. It woke me up and made me recognize the voice I had – to speak out on discrimination – mainly the discrimination that still existed in the military. I wanted to help people more than I ever did before. I also became a social worker after the service.”

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Alva joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 19, serving in Somalia, Japan and Iraq, before finally being “invalided” out after a total of 13 years of service.

For him, living life as a gay man in the military was hard.

Says Alva, “It was very difficult. The stress of lying about who you are everyday is so, so stressful. People are so intrusive of each other, which is normal, but having to lie everyday is awful and no one should have to do that, especially in order to keep their job.”

The experience had a lasting impact on Alva as he became active in the fight for the abolition of DADT, testifying against it in Congress and being present when President Obama signed the repeal bill. Alva, though, sees the DADT repeal as a stepping stone toward more social equality for LGBT individuals.

Says Alva, “(The DADT repeal) was very important because it set in motion the snowball effect with regard to same-sex marriage and non-discrimination in the workplace toward LGBT individuals. We have now repealed DADT but still do not confer same-sex benefits to same-sex couples in the military because if we did we would go against DOMA. It is just a matter of time before that will be repealed as well as we see states granting marriage. And having members of the military now working with openly gay men and women will prepare them for the civilian world. Corp American is already changing and instituting their own non-discrimination polices. So people leaving the military will have to work with all groups of diversity including LGBT individuals.”

And the LGBT community’s fight for equality is one that transcends social groups. “It is very important to be active in social equality, not just for LGBT individuals, but any person of diversity,” says Alva. “People need to be treated equally in this country.”

The 2011 Salute Awards will be part of the Military Acceptance Project’s salute to LGBT servicemembers and the end of DADT.

While Alva has received many awards over the years for his work he is always appreciative when he receives a new one.

“I’ve been given a lot of awards since my injury and since coming out as gay, but every time I get another accolade it feels like the first time. It is just as special and warming as the one before,” he says. “However, I don’t need all these accolades to do what I do. I do what I do because it’s about life. It’s about helping each other and being respectful. This award from MAP is an honor. I thank them for all the work they do on their end. I am deeply touched by their recognition for this award.”

Alva has remained active, both politically and physically, since losing his leg. “I am very active,” he says. “Other than lobbying members of Congress for equal rights, I speak out on veterans’ issues and disability awareness. I am now a public speaker and part of a great speakers’ bureau. I am an avid scuba diver with 96 dives under my belt since my injury and a snow skier as well.”

The awards event will take place on Sept. 20 at Bourbon Street Bar and Grill from 7 to 10 p.m.