“Wisdom While Saving Angels”, 9” x 6”, Intaglio, Serigraph, 2018
Nick, Navy, 2002-2007
I joined the military to get out of my small town, see the world and to see what was out there for a 19 year old gay boy. The introduction to worldly cultures and races was a welcomed change for me. Being gay and serving in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman was an exciting and challenging experience. It wasn’t easy having to lie to the world for 5 years but I found that most service members could care less what you were. We were all there to train and put our life on the line if we had to. I’d of stayed in if I’d known Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would be removed but how could I have known.
While serving in Iraq I was a FMF/MAW HM3 Corpsman serving with the Purple Foxes. There were a few days of flight rescues but my primary role was night delivery, of Angels, our fallen comrades. There were many experiences of sadness and joy while performing these duties. One thing I learned was how in death we are all equal.
I joined the military to get out of my small town, see the world and to see what was out there for a 19 year old gay boy. The introduction to worldly cultures and races was a welcomed change for me. Being gay and serving in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman was an exciting and challenging experience. It wasn’t easy having to lie to the world for 5 years but I found that most service members could care less what you were. We were all there to train and put our life on the line if we had to. I’d of stayed in if I’d known Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would be removed but how could I have known.
While serving in Iraq I was a FMF/MAW HM3 Corpsman serving with the Purple Foxes. There were a few days of flight rescues but my primary role was night delivery, of Angels, our fallen comrades. There were many experiences of sadness and joy while performing these duties. One thing I learned was how in death we are all equal.