''I was really taken aback on how disrespectful someone who is the leader of the United States Marine Corps can talk about, you know, members of the Armed Forces, who is aware that there are gay service members serving in the Marine Corps, and all branches of service. But what he did was totally, what we call in the military, "conduct unbecoming." He took my Purple Heart and threw it in my face. To say that there are distractions, and could cause loss of limbs for people, because of knowing that there are openly gay men and women serving in the military. I mean, this is just unbelievable."
Staff Sgt. Eric Alva reacting to comments made by the current US Marine Commandant, General James Amos, that inclusion of gay Marines should not happen now: "Mistakes or inattention or distractions cost Marines lives." (Rachel Maddow Show / MSNBC)
