Straight men and women in our armed forces, this argument asserts, aren’t professional enough to serve with gay troops while doing their jobs. As a former Army officer, that is an insult to me and, more important, to my fellow soldiers still serving — gay and straight alike.

This was a mission that was started before I got here. This was something that was, you know, just they wanted to do. They came to see me. They explained what they wanted to do, the generals, who are very respected. My generals are the most respected that we've had in many decades, I believe. And they lost Ryan.

This is the right thing to do for our people and for the force. We’re talking about talented Americans who are serving with distinction or who want the opportunity to serve. We can’t allow barriers unrelated to a person’s qualifications prevent us from recruiting and retaining those who can best accomplish the mission.

As we look at our choices as to who our next Commander-in-chief will be is to recognize the necessity to have a Commander-in-chief who has foresight.

I decided to leave the army when my dead and injured comrades lay in our base, and nobody took them to hospital. My army training is very useful now, as I am training Taliban fighters with the same knowledge.

If you see something like that, just do what you can. I would rather die trying to stop something like that than walk away and let everybody else get killed. I couldn't live with that. I'd rather die.

Seventy years on, I re-emphasize the necessity of world peace.

I get goose bumps thinking about it.

The most important thing to know as a staffer: please let the secret service know before you shoot off the confetti cannons.