and afternoon everyone you go back into a time period of – of 2011 in the
a time period of – of 2011 in the
a time period of – of 2011 in the northern province of Kapisa
northern province of Kapisa
northern province of Kapisa and the valley of alice a there was a
and the valley of alice a there was a
and the valley of alice a there was a mitten the in French gathering enough
mitten the in French gathering enough
mitten the in French gathering enough intelligence and in that intelligence
intelligence and in that intelligence
intelligence and in that intelligence they gathered they formed they formed a
they gathered they formed they formed a
they gathered they formed they formed a mission mission that was going to go out
mission mission that was going to go out
mission mission that was going to go out that day with the Afghan National Police
that day with the Afghan National Police
that day with the Afghan National Police and the Afghan National Police we’re
and the Afghan National Police we’re
and the Afghan National Police we’re going to take the lead in this operation
going to take the lead in this operation
going to take the lead in this operation and in that operation it was assigned
and in that operation it was assigned
and in that operation it was assigned one American combat adviser but also one
one American combat adviser but also one
one American combat adviser but also one French soldier in that mission our
French soldier in that mission our
French soldier in that mission our objective was to set up a backstop or a
objective was to set up a backstop or a
objective was to set up a backstop or a screen as they called it and we were
screen as they called it and we were
screen as they called it and we were moving down between two cots which was
moving down between two cots which was
moving down between two cots which was these buildings with the Afghans lived
these buildings with the Afghans lived
these buildings with the Afghans lived and down at the end there was a small
and down at the end there was a small
and down at the end there was a small two-story structure and about half way
two-story structure and about half way
two-story structure and about half way down
down
down machine-gun fire broke out immediately
machine-gun fire broke out immediately
machine-gun fire broke out immediately killing several of the Afghan soldiers
killing several of the Afghan soldiers
killing several of the Afghan soldiers the French soldier went to one knee and
the French soldier went to one knee and
the French soldier went to one knee and returned fire and that was sustained
returned fire and that was sustained
returned fire and that was sustained machine-gun fire put him down and killed
machine-gun fire put him down and killed
machine-gun fire put him down and killed him the American soldier dove into a
him the American soldier dove into a
him the American soldier dove into a drainage ditch and returned fire trying
drainage ditch and returned fire trying
drainage ditch and returned fire trying accurately tried to make each round
accurately tried to make each round
accurately tried to make each round count which seemed like hours was only
count which seemed like hours was only
count which seemed like hours was only 15 minutes according to the log and in
15 minutes according to the log and in
15 minutes according to the log and in that that withering fire and trying to
that that withering fire and trying to
that that withering fire and trying to sustain in that battle that went on it
sustain in that battle that went on it
sustain in that battle that went on it got dire and their Africa and the and
got dire and their Africa and the and
got dire and their Africa and the and the Taliban finally realized that they
the Taliban finally realized that they
the Taliban finally realized that they had isolated and separated a US soldier
had isolated and separated a US soldier
had isolated and separated a US soldier and then they wanted to capture that
and then they wanted to capture that
and then they wanted to capture that soldier the foot they moved in close
soldier the foot they moved in close
soldier the foot they moved in close enough that that fought it did it began
enough that that fought it did it began
enough that that fought it did it began down to a close quarter battle and it
down to a close quarter battle and it
down to a close quarter battle and it ended with pistol fire and a hand
ended with pistol fire and a hand
ended with pistol fire and a hand grenade that soldier was me I was the
grenade that soldier was me I was the
grenade that soldier was me I was the American soldier that day in that ditch
American soldier that day in that ditch
American soldier that day in that ditch who returned that fire and I received a
who returned that fire and I received a
who returned that fire and I received a Bronze Star for combat action and the
Bronze Star for combat action and the
Bronze Star for combat action and the first soldier to receive the French
first soldier to receive the French
first soldier to receive the French National Defense medal since World War
National Defense medal since World War
National Defense medal since World War two it’s interesting because I wasn’t
two it’s interesting because I wasn’t
two it’s interesting because I wasn’t supposed to be in that war I was
supposed to be in that war I was
supposed to be in that war I was transgender at ranch
transgender at ranch
transgender at ranch soldier was not supposed to be deployed
soldier was not supposed to be deployed
soldier was not supposed to be deployed because we weren’t welcome the American
because we weren’t welcome the American
because we weren’t welcome the American military it wasn’t for open service our
military it wasn’t for open service our
military it wasn’t for open service our service wasn’t wasn’t welcome it takes
service wasn’t wasn’t welcome it takes
service wasn’t wasn’t welcome it takes its cues from many parts of the history
its cues from many parts of the history
its cues from many parts of the history when you go back America women struggled
when you go back America women struggled
when you go back America women struggled for open service it goes all the way
for open service it goes all the way
for open service it goes all the way back to Washington’s army was the first
back to Washington’s army was the first
back to Washington’s army was the first woman who hid her service it was until
woman who hid her service it was until
woman who hid her service it was until nineteen it wasn’t told in World War two
nineteen it wasn’t told in World War two
nineteen it wasn’t told in World War two 1948 when they started after world war
1948 when they started after world war
1948 when they started after world war ii started allow women in don’t-ask
ii started allow women in don’t-ask
ii started allow women in don’t-ask don’t-tell that came about that was in
don’t-tell that came about that was in
don’t-tell that came about that was in wasn’t that when was that that became
wasn’t that when was that that became
wasn’t that when was that that became that was during that was during the
that was during that was during the
that was during that was during the clinton era and that was wasn’t repealed
clinton era and that was wasn’t repealed
clinton era and that was wasn’t repealed until 2011
until 2011
until 2011 so each part each race each group
so each part each race each group
so each part each race each group whether it’s lesbians gay transgender
whether it’s lesbians gay transgender
whether it’s lesbians gay transgender all fought for inclusion within the
all fought for inclusion within the
all fought for inclusion within the military but took long periods of time
military but took long periods of time
military but took long periods of time and they always questioned the same
and they always questioned the same
and they always questioned the same thing all these things that they came
thing all these things that they came
thing all these things that they came town to they always had to say the unit
town to they always had to say the unit
town to they always had to say the unit cohesion that weather and women were in
cohesion that weather and women were in
cohesion that weather and women were in the military it was going to affect unit
the military it was going to affect unit
the military it was going to affect unit cohesion whether it’s going to be
cohesion whether it’s going to be
cohesion whether it’s going to be lesbian gay bi transsexual didn’t matter
lesbian gay bi transsexual didn’t matter
lesbian gay bi transsexual didn’t matter was always going to affect communication
was always going to affect communication
was always going to affect communication but that wasn’t the fact the fact was
but that wasn’t the fact the fact was
but that wasn’t the fact the fact was unit cohesion is based on training
unit cohesion is based on training
unit cohesion is based on training having quality training quality
having quality training quality
having quality training quality equipment and quality leadership that’s
equipment and quality leadership that’s
equipment and quality leadership that’s what determines unit cohesiveness
what determines unit cohesiveness
what determines unit cohesiveness because when they did the studies it
because when they did the studies it
because when they did the studies it wasn’t about any of those
wasn’t about any of those
wasn’t about any of those it wasn’t about whether they were gonna
it wasn’t about whether they were gonna
it wasn’t about whether they were gonna disrupt service service was dear up
disrupt service service was dear up
disrupt service service was dear up disrupted if they didn’t have the right
disrupted if they didn’t have the right
disrupted if they didn’t have the right equipment to work with or the training
equipment to work with or the training
equipment to work with or the training with the leadership leadership is key
with the leadership leadership is key
with the leadership leadership is key you know when the generals did all the
you know when the generals did all the
you know when the generals did all the studies and they came back and he looked
studies and they came back and he looked
studies and they came back and he looked at all this they found out that it
at all this they found out that it
at all this they found out that it wasn’t an effect it was gonna have an
wasn’t an effect it was gonna have an
wasn’t an effect it was gonna have an adverse effect and quite frankly it was
adverse effect and quite frankly it was
adverse effect and quite frankly it was the opposite was true in fact the
the opposite was true in fact the
the opposite was true in fact the opposite was true that they were in fact
opposite was true that they were in fact
opposite was true that they were in fact making a more cohesive a military so
making a more cohesive a military so
making a more cohesive a military so much so that they’ve proven the fact
much so that they’ve proven the fact
much so that they’ve proven the fact that having diversity even in corporate
that having diversity even in corporate
that having diversity even in corporate world
world
world any other part of the world they
any other part of the world they
any other part of the world they realized that diversity enhances
realized that diversity enhances
realized that diversity enhances capabilities not takes away from it so
capabilities not takes away from it so
capabilities not takes away from it so the military in a lot of ways is ahead
the military in a lot of ways is ahead
the military in a lot of ways is ahead and blaggers and other things when we
and blaggers and other things when we
and blaggers and other things when we talk about transgender in the open
talk about transgender in the open
talk about transgender in the open militant open military we’re not the
militant open military we’re not the
militant open military we’re not the first eight there’s eighteen other
first eight there’s eighteen other
first eight there’s eighteen other nations to do it the Dutch were the
nations to do it the Dutch were the
nations to do it the Dutch were the first and that was in 1972 1992 was the
first and that was in 1972 1992 was the
first and that was in 1972 1992 was the Canadians in 1993 was Israel so we’re
Canadians in 1993 was Israel so we’re
Canadians in 1993 was Israel so we’re not the first and opening in opening up
not the first and opening in opening up
not the first and opening in opening up service which is the other ones
service which is the other ones
service which is the other ones realizing that’s their you know in the
realizing that’s their you know in the
realizing that’s their you know in the end it’s all about patriotism
end it’s all about patriotism
end it’s all about patriotism you know everyone joins the military for
you know everyone joins the military for
you know everyone joins the military for the same reasons it’s a call to service
the same reasons it’s a call to service
the same reasons it’s a call to service it doesn’t matter whether you’re white
it doesn’t matter whether you’re white
it doesn’t matter whether you’re white you’re black you’re this you’re Spanish
you’re black you’re this you’re Spanish
you’re black you’re this you’re Spanish you’re trans you’re gay it’s about why
you’re trans you’re gay it’s about why
you’re trans you’re gay it’s about why we serve we serve because we feel that
we serve we serve because we feel that
we serve we serve because we feel that call to patriotism it’s the same it’s
call to patriotism it’s the same it’s
call to patriotism it’s the same it’s the right it’s part of being full
the right it’s part of being full
the right it’s part of being full citizenship as the part of defending our
citizenship as the part of defending our
citizenship as the part of defending our nation what we believe in the culture of
nation what we believe in the culture of
nation what we believe in the culture of what America is and what it stands for
what America is and what it stands for
what America is and what it stands for in the Constitution that’s why we’re
in the Constitution that’s why we’re
in the Constitution that’s why we’re called to service what call to service
called to service what call to service
called to service what call to service for that and we feel that we want to
for that and we feel that we want to
for that and we feel that we want to participate you know every soldier when
participate you know every soldier when
participate you know every soldier when they stand the first day they stand
they stand the first day they stand
they stand the first day they stand believe it or not on a carpet and they
believe it or not on a carpet and they
believe it or not on a carpet and they raise their right hand and when they
raise their right hand and when they
raise their right hand and when they raised their right hand we take an oath
raised their right hand we take an oath
raised their right hand we take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United
to defend the Constitution of the United
to defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies
States of America from all enemies
States of America from all enemies foreign and domestic and we then live by
foreign and domestic and we then live by
foreign and domestic and we then live by a code of duty honor country and we live
a code of duty honor country and we live
a code of duty honor country and we live by that code because that’s the
by that code because that’s the
by that code because that’s the foundation of what this country is built
foundation of what this country is built
foundation of what this country is built on that’s what it’s all about and this
on that’s what it’s all about and this
on that’s what it’s all about and this country has come a long way and we’ll
country has come a long way and we’ll
country has come a long way and we’ll continue to strive for that but I
continue to strive for that but I
continue to strive for that but I believe that in time we will
believe that in time we will
believe that in time we will conquer and blend all those lines to the
conquer and blend all those lines to the
conquer and blend all those lines to the point where it doesn’t matter and it’s
point where it doesn’t matter and it’s
point where it doesn’t matter and it’s not about the color of your skin and
not about the color of your skin and
not about the color of your skin and whether you’re male or female
whether you’re male or female
whether you’re male or female or what gender you identify with but
or what gender you identify with but
or what gender you identify with but it’s about what you bring to the table
it’s about what you bring to the table
it’s about what you bring to the table that you’re a patriot you believe in
that you’re a patriot you believe in
that you’re a patriot you believe in America and you want to and you want to
America and you want to and you want to
America and you want to and you want to be a part of and have that place in
be a part of and have that place in
be a part of and have that place in history because that’s what you become a
history because that’s what you become a
history because that’s what you become a place in history as a soldier that’s why
place in history as a soldier that’s why
place in history as a soldier that’s why when we have when we talk about who
when we have when we talk about who
when we have when we talk about who we’re gonna be and where we’re gonna be
we’re gonna be and where we’re gonna be
we’re gonna be and where we’re gonna be diversity is about patriotism and you
diversity is about patriotism and you
diversity is about patriotism and you want to be in this place and be a
want to be in this place and be a
want to be in this place and be a soldier so I took that honor and I
soldier so I took that honor and I
soldier so I took that honor and I served 30 years in the United States
served 30 years in the United States
served 30 years in the United States military and I am proud of my service I
military and I am proud of my service I
military and I am proud of my service I am proud of my country and I don’t make
am proud of my country and I don’t make
am proud of my country and I don’t make apologies for that and I’d never let
apologies for that and I’d never let
apologies for that and I’d never let anybody paint me as a victim as a Trent
anybody paint me as a victim as a Trent
anybody paint me as a victim as a Trent when I’m transgender soldier or is it
when I’m transgender soldier or is it
when I’m transgender soldier or is it transgender individual I always keep my
transgender individual I always keep my
transgender individual I always keep my chin up and I’ve met many students in
chin up and I’ve met many students in
chin up and I’ve met many students in this College who’ve come to me and I
this College who’ve come to me and I
this College who’ve come to me and I will tell and I always tell them the
will tell and I always tell them the
will tell and I always tell them the same thing you be be true to yourself be
same thing you be be true to yourself be
same thing you be be true to yourself be authentic to yourself and live your and
authentic to yourself and live your and
authentic to yourself and live your and live a good life thank you
live a good life thank you
live a good life thank you [Applause]
”
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