Next month marks the 16th anniversary of the controversial "Don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the U.S. military and discussion over whether or not to repeal the measure is heating up. Tuesday night a key figure in that debate spoke out at Rockford College about his experiences.

Walking with one prosthetic leg, Eric Alva carries the scars of war with him wherever he goes. He was the first American service member injured in the Iraq war, when he stepped on a landmine in 2003.

But it was another bombshell that brought Alva's name into the national spotlight. In 2007, he began working with congress and the Human Rights Campaign.
"And admitted to the country and the rest of the world that the first American injured in the Iraq War was a gay Marine," says Alva.

Speaking to students and staff at Rockford College, Alva continues his push to repeal the military's controversial "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Alva says, "When I went to war, those rights and freedoms belonged to every single individual in this country, including myself."

Supporters of "Don't ask, don't tell" say having openly gay members of the military would be a distraction that would disrupt trust and cohesion within the organization. But Alva says he's living proof that's not true. He says many of his fellow soldiers knew he was gay and it made no difference.

"They knew the job I could do and that's what it was about, my merit, my professionalism and my leadership. They didn't care who I was, they knew I could be the best armed marine that they ever served with."

"I will end don't ask, don't tell," President Obama recently told the Human Rights Campaign. He's renewing a campaign promise to allow openly gay service members. But the President offered no timeline or specifics.

Those gathered to hear Alva speak hope Mr. Obama follows through.

Rockford College Sophomore Rachael Lefler says, "It's a civil rights thing. It's like why make a clause that excludes some people or makes them hide who they are?"

Answering that question is now Alva's final mission.

Since "Don't ask, don't tell" was enacted in 1993, roughly 13,5000 gay service members have been discharged and it's estimated to have cost at least $363 million to enforce.

Right now there are reportedly 65,000 homosexuals serving in the U.S. military, along with one million gay veterans. According to a 2008 Washington Post-ABC news poll, 75 percent of Americans believe openly gay people should be allowed to serve.