A Humble Officer
Aviator. Warrior. Patriot. Hero. Those are just some of the images that come to mind whenever I speak to Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach. I had the privilege of first being introduced to the Lieutenant Colonel back in the spring of 2008 - when he first called SLDN to ask for assistance. It was a story I was all too familiar with - a dedicated service member who wanted nothing more than to make the military his career so that he could serve his country was outed by a civilian for no apparent reason. During that initial conversation - it didn't take me long to realize that the service member I was speaking to wasn't simply a decorated Air Force Aviator - a Weapons Systems Operator if you want to get technical (and for those of you who need a pop culture reference - think Goose in Top Gun) - he had the Air Force running through his veins. Literally. Both of Victor's parents were officers in the Air Force. He was born on an Air Force base. His sister was in the Air Force. He went to Notre Dame on a full ROTC Air Force scholarship. The Air Force has been his life for as long as he can remember and his dedication and passion for what he was born to do - fly upside down at 500 miles an hour - is apparent to anyone who meets him.
I finally had the opportunity to meet Victor face-to-face just before he appeared on the Rachel Maddow show earlier this year. He is exactly how he appeared on that show - humble, proud and determined to serve his country. If he can't finish his service as an officer in the Air Force, then he's determined to serve in another capacity. Victor's story has opened the hearts and minds of so many people all over this country - and with the airing of this story on BBC just two days ago - he's now reaching a worldwide audience. What kind of image are we portraying to the world when we are waging two wars - where we claim to be fighting for democracy and civil rights for those who are oppressed - when we still have basic government-sanctioned and government-mandated discrimination going on right here at home?
Lt. Col. Fehrenbach continues to serve on active duty today. He goes to work each and every day and continues to serve his country - each day wondering if this will be the day when he receives his official notice of discharge. This man has nine Air Medals, one for Valor which he earned for a particularly heroic combat mission in Iraq. We have spent an estimated $25 million training him to defend his country. He's got more than 400 hours of combat experience. He wants to serve. His fellow Airmen want him to serve. He's ready and willing to deploy at any time. It's time to end the discrimination. It's time to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell so Lt. Col. Fehrenbach can go back to doing what he loves to do - what he's been trained to do - and what his country needs him to do.
10-02-09 By Emily Hecht, SLDN Co-Director for Law |
16 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.tiffany in Washington DC on October 10, 2009 at 07.13 pm
“Cadet” Marshall—
As a member of the armed forces which you are apparently about to enter, I would encourage you to study harder your manuals and lessons on leadership. Good officers do not exert leadership by driving their people to hate them. And being a good officer isn’t about finding out who can “last the longest and go the furthest.” It’s about gaining the trust of those you lead, those who are putting their very lives in your hands. Before you pin on your butter bars, I hope you will think about that and remember that at your first duty station, Airmen will respect your rank, but the respect of those in the profession of arms is hard earned, and they will not respect you as a man until you earn it. The LTC is an American hero by any definition. Sir, as a member of the world’s greatest Air Force, I salute you and your service. Your sacrifice humbles those of us who will follow you. And it will not be in vain. We will prove ourselves worthy of those who have gone before. You are an inspiration to me and so very many others. Thank you. May God bless you and help you to continue to Aim High even if they take away your “blue suit.” You were true to it with your integrity and courage-that is something no one can ever take away.
V/R,
A fellow Airman
Marine Officer in Japan on October 04, 2009 at 04.27 pm
Sir, (LtCol Fehrenbach)
Thank you for your service. I will pray for your continued service. You are a role model to me and many others.
Very Respectufully,
A Marine Corps Officer
Georgetown CADRE in DC METRO on October 04, 2009 at 04.26 pm
Whooah! REP IT MARSHALL-
You know who gotz your back!
GTOWN! WHAT!
marshall in Up your botty on October 04, 2009 at 04.13 pm
I am very much at peace…. I am exceling and achieving at something that has been taken from many of you…. My success has been guaranteed. And I have yet to become affiliated with anyone on the PENTAGON"S TERRORIST WATCH LIST…..
Smooches!
I know that most of you feel I am the devil. I myself would discharge certain persons under DADT- You must agree that many persons in GLBT community are not fit to serve in the military - It’s isn’t just about being medically fit. Part of it is the way you up-hold yourself. OR do you all forget the Military baring comes into play.
I will be slithering away now!
Erik S. in Orlando,FL on October 04, 2009 at 03.57 pm
I don’t dislike you. Nor do I harbor hate towards you. I hope you find peace with yourself Marshall.
Marshall in Ft. Belvoir on October 04, 2009 at 03.45 pm
I do need to thank you all! Knowing that most of you extremist- dislike me! and pretty much are on the line of hating me—Let’s me know my training is taking effect- You all are simply validating that I am becoming an OUTSTANDING Officer,
I do appreciate the motivation- We shall see who last the longest and goes the furthest!
Marshall in Ft. Belvoir on October 04, 2009 at 03.34 pm
It would seem the hate is coming from all of you all….
The point is this… He has never admitted fault and I am glad that you would make statements directed at me when I am not the only one throwing names out their.
I have no hate you all dissapoint me as a GAY servicemember…
My voice is LOUD AND CLEAR- If Manzella and others represented by SLDN were clear as to why they left such acceptance and tolerance in the way that they did then you would be justified to claim A LOUD CLEAR VOICE being needed as your deffense… But it seems they just wanted to cuase a scene they weren’t speaking out about anything that was affecting them if they were treated fairly and justly an accepted the way that people like Manzella have claimed.
His statement was no one had a problome with his homosexuality. He stated that he was accepted was awarded medals for his service, but then out of no where he went on 60 mins… help me understand, how he can make testimony that the treatment was so wrong, yet he validates his crediability with such a positive experience?
The Lt. Col. wasn’t thrown away at the drop of a DIME- The Investigation was left alone, the Trick kept filling complaints- give credit where credit is due….
Ever heard of a PR stunt - It would seem likely for one to concur that this is the basis of most of SLDN’s clients’ claims-
He knew his behavior was RISKY- the Airforce tried to let it slide but he pissed the TRICK off that bad that there is a missing piece!
Erik S. in Orlando,FL on October 04, 2009 at 02.41 pm
Marshall;
Your words are regrettable to say the least. Your behavior and thinking certainly seems naive and lacking historical context to the current situation.
Change has never occurred by people remaining silent. People in this country, regardless of their cause have had to ALWAYS speak up. From the suffragists in the 20’s to the modern civil rights movements, VOICES THAT ARE LOUD AND CLEAR have been the catalyst for change. Please get rid of whatever hate and self loathing you obviously seem to have, and help your fellow service members move the ball on this one, not attacking them.
There are ways to talk about tactics without reducing yourself to juvenile name calling. That is not what we do here.
Marshall in FT Belvoir on October 04, 2009 at 02.24 pm
Far be it for me, a CADET to explain to you that though the LT. Col. was in violation of DADT with the first investigation the Air Force did attempt to handle the situation justly, but the “trick” which the Lt. Col. was banging refused to leave the situation alone and continually made it an issue. The Air Force did attempt to handle this with sympathy, but the Lt. Col. never admitted he had taken part in Risky behavior.
As I slither back here, Gay and in the Reserves doing what I can to help assist others and help prevent homicides based on hate while in the military. I do cuation you. You are labeling people who state they have had such acceptence in the military that they feel they need to go on 60 mins and protest DADT. If he had as much acceptance as me with my MASON JAR then he would still be in the ARMY like me. Doin what he could to ensure say 16,000 people are treated as fairly as possible. Considering he has had such support and acceptance.
So as I seek the help of other professionals it will be to ensure that the GLBT community and all who serve are treated as ethically as possible. SINCE I BELIEVE SERVING YOUR COUNTRY IS WORTH IT.
I wish you had the experience I have had then maybe you would understand the sacrafise is staying and offering your comrades safety and trust…
This is why I prefer SERVICE MEMBERS UNITED they are less ratical and more understanding of the situation in its entirety
JUST TRY AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE>>>
SUCKS TO BE YOU!
Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com on October 04, 2009 at 12.52 pm
Earth to Marshall: You’re tired? Well, I’m tired of gay [?] cockroaches like you trying to pull our heroes down to your level of self-loathing.
You CLEARLY have some issues totally unrelated to disagreeing about what the wisest course of action is for gay servicemembers [which is up to each of them to decide FOR THEMSELVES]. You slither here to label a decorated Lt. Col. in the USAF with 18-years of service a “whor” [sic]? You diss Darren Manzella for his sacrifice?
Such name calling, and incoherent drool about gays fighting from “the inside” when the military is the last arena in which one can effect change while hiding one’s true self, suggests that the person you’re really angry with is yourself…for whatever reason…and I respectfully urge you to seek some professional health.
Until then, please spit your poison into a Mason jar inside your closet and not here.
———
DADT Protest & Leonard Matlovich Memorial
Saturday, October 10, 2 pm
Congressional Cemetery
1801 E St SE at Potomac Ave, Wash DC
[Within walking distance of Potomac Ave & Stadium-Armory DC Metro stations.]
Erik S. in Orlando,FL on October 04, 2009 at 10.16 am
Marshall;
How can you bring about change if everyone is kept in the closet? People need to know (especially the civvies and out of touch politicians) that we do serve, we are serving, and will continue to serve and that forcing people to lie about themselves goes against the military values we supposedly represent. It is damaging and rather poisonous.
marshall in Ft. Belvoir on October 03, 2009 at 11.51 pm
Far from humble…. I do sympothize… with his unfortunate outing…. But thats what you get for being a whor and not keeping your botty call in check….
Nick, there is an old saying in the military- Keep control of your family. Keep in mind if you are gay and don’t have a family- KEEP CONTROL OF YOUR PARTNER. Do that and you shouldn’t have problomes….
I am tired of people saying prior-service persons like Manzella are heros…. He outed himself and had no care about the LGBT community serving… He has absolutely no concern for servicemembers or persons in the military if he did then he wouldn’t have gone on his press spree! If have of you really cared - you would be there to make sure that you did all you could to keep these organizations safe…. you have more of an advantage being on the inside - YOU CAN PREVENT NOTHING ON THE OUTSIDE!
Ignus on October 02, 2009 at 09.14 pm
Wow, this is pretty cool that there seems to be alot of people currently serving or wanting to serve commenting into this article. As a young officer on active duty myself, it’s always grateful to hear from others under the DADT radar. Your comments remind me that I am a human being & US citizen, deserving of equal rights like everyone else. I don’t know about you all (especially the “ad” guy trying to retire in 7) but I realized that it’s so easy to be a cynic and view our hetero counter-parts thru contempt, with their bling-bling marriages or their care-free party life. And how can we not be right? Trying to pretend to not take offense of their “gay” rants/jokes with fake smiles & playing dumb, or getting to know douche bags that you would have to die for in minutes but would out you in seconds, or driving 3-5 hrs out of town to go to a gay club or LGBT event and then shitting yourself to catch someone you think you know from your base/unit spot you-all these are the daily occurrences/crap we have to deal with…And for what?..For just serving our country. Sometimes, I try to laugh at myself and the situation of living under the DADT by imagining that I’m like James Bond, but under cover as a gay ‘spy’ by gathering info for Lady Liberty to correct Uncle Sam, only Lady Liberty is taking her sweet ass time. But why should we have to live ‘underground’ and hide our identity to serve? We should not be imagining that we are lesser human for being non-hetero. We deserve better. Sexuality should not be a measure of our success or professionalism in serving our military. We shouldn’t be imagining ourselves as ‘spies’ trying to do the best to hide our sexuality, but as the warriors we truly are and deserving of in serving our country. Lt Col Fehrenbach is an example of that. Thanks all for giving your voice to these comments and continuing to give to our country even against the odds. You all give me sanity and hope of serving. Thanks again.
Lance on October 02, 2009 at 07.40 pm
Nick,
I just want to give you the heads up that it’s ok the first year or two that you are in but the longer that you stay in, the harder it gets to hide that part of yourself. Having the possibility of everything you work for on a daily basis getting ripped away and degraded as nothing because of your sexuality makes it harder every day to go to work. Some people may sacrifice by being away from their families and loved ones, but joining as someone that is gay/bisexual automatically gives up a lot more than anyone else joining. The mission is worth it if they change the policy soon but I can see why most people don’t reenlist in the same situation we are in.
ad on October 02, 2009 at 07.36 pm
A note to Lt. Col. Fehrenbach: With a mere 7 years left until retirement and in light of hearing of your situation, those 7 years now seem so far away and far more daunting a path. Perhaps I’m selfish in putting my goals of retirement up front in my note, but it’s a goal nonetheless that often defines a successful military career.
While, I have a general knowledge of how you were found out, I now pause to think of every chink in my armor that might expose me: my partner of almost 10 years, my immediate family, the handful of military friends that actually know, the dozens of others that most likely suspect, and the periphery of friends and family that know my sexual orientation. Which one will turn on me knowingly or unknowingly?
I’ve had my low points in the military. I’ve had my high points. I’ve had a deployment to Iraq as a Company Commander conducting route clearance. Even at my most low point facing the hypocrisy of the military, I’ve had to ask myself why I stay in the military. The answer I give myself and others most often is that I want to make it better. Better for the LGB community? Not as a primary goal. I want to make it better as an organization. And if in doing that, years from now (or if DADT is repealed before I retire), I’ve been able to make it better as gay man and those that I’ve worked with so closely over those years are able to look back and not think of me as a gay man, but as a professional officer, then I’ve succeeded.
I humbly consider my career so far as successful and productive in the service of my country. Yours appears to be honorable and forthright. Your demeanor and presence in the interviews you’ve given have been quite professional and surely no one questions your military service.
Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, any regrets? What lessons learned do you have to give to those of us that now shutter at the thought that at any time (you: 18 years of service), we too can be discharged from the military when some third party exposes us?!
A Brother in Arms.
Nick on October 02, 2009 at 05.37 pm
As a bisexual currently in the process of enlisting in the Air Force, I am proud of the Lieutenant Colonal and all he is done for the service of our nation. In the off chance that he’d ever get to read this comment, I’d just like for him to know that I look up to him. He is a hero and a source of inspiration to this young man who, much like him, only wishes to serve his country.