Army Bills Lt Choi $2,500 for DADT Discharge (He says he's not paying.)

[kpete]

Source: Daily Kos

Army Bills Lt Choi $2,500 for DADT Discharge
by Clarknt67
Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 08:53:33 AM PS

Lt Dan Choi has been served with a collection notice, asking him to repay $2,519.18 left on his service contract, which was prematurely terminated when it became publicly known he was gay.

In a open letter to the President he says:

I still find myself on a domestic battlefield for basic dignity as an American citizen. I know I am not alone in this fight because of the desperate cries for help I get from discharged, unemployed, discriminated, and suicidal veterans.

He says he's not paying.

Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/1/27/939250/-Army-Bills-Lt-Choi-$2,500-for-DADT-Discharge

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Dear Mr. President:

Today I received a $2,500 bill from your Defense Department Finance and Debt Services. Specifically, you claim payment for "the unearned portion" of my Army contract. Six months after my discharge under the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy I have tried to move forward with my life, and I was inspired by your clarion calls for our progress as one nation towards a more just society. I have served my country in combat and I have tried to live my life by the values I learned at West Point in continued service to our nation. To move forward in my own life I have finally sought treatment for Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Insomnia, and Depressive Disorder from the Veterans Affairs Department. But I still find myself on a domestic battlefield for basic dignity as an American citizen. I know I am not alone in this fight because of the desperate cries for help I get from discharged, unemployed, discriminated, and suicidal veterans. I have felt all of their same pains personally. Today I also witness the disgrace of a country that perpetually discovers methods to punish its own citizens for taking a moral stand.

By flagrantly and repeatedly violating an immoral law, I have flagrantly and repeatedly saluted the honor of America's promise. At West Point, when we recited the Cadet Prayer we reminded ourselves "always to choose the harder right over the easier wrong." It would be easy to pay the $2500 bill and be swiftly done with this diseased chapter of my life, where I sinfully deceived and tolerated self-hatred under Don't Ask Don't Tell. Many thousands have wrestled with their responsibilities and expedient solutions when confronted with issues of this magnitude. I understand you also wrestle with issues of our equality. But I choose to cease wrestling, to cease the excuses, to cease the philosophical grandstanding and ethical gymnastics of political expediency in the face of moral duty. My obligations to take a stand, knowing all the continued consequences of my violations, are clear.

I refuse to pay your claim.

Respectfully,
Dan Choi
Former Army First Lieutenant
West Point Class of 2003

Attached:
DFAS Account Statement 12/20/2010 (2 pages)
Also published to twitter @ltdanchoi

[drmeow]

1. Dear Defense Department Finance and Debt Services

In the immortal words of Dick Cheney, "Go f**k yourselves!"

[William769]

2. +1000!

[xchrom]

3. adding insult to injury -- way to army guys. nt

[msanthrope]

4. He and other vets subject to this collection should get representation and sue

in equity.

Of course, this is SOP for when a serviceperson leaves before contract completion. But it is galling to have it applied to DADT dischargees.