(applause) koreans like eric one of the first american's (inaudible) (applause) leaders like jonathan hopkins who led a platoon into iraq during the invasion. earning a bronze star with valor. (applause) he was (applause) it was discharged to receive e-mail to letters from his soldiers sang the new news gail long (laughter) and thought he was the best commander they ever had (applause) there are a lot of stories like these. stores only underscore the importance of enlisting the service of all who are willing to fight for the country. that's why i hope those soldiers, sailors coast guards who have been discharged under this policy will seek to realist once it is implemented (applause). (cheering). that's why i say to all americans gate or straight we want nothing to do defend this country your country needs you and watch you we will be honored to welcome you into the finest military the world has ever known. (applause) some of you remember i visited afghanistan a few weeks ago. while i was walking along there's a big crowd of 3000. a young woman in uniform was shaking my hand other people were

one of those is a captain by the name of jonathan hopkins. he finished fourth in his class at west point, commanded two companies, one in combat, earned three bronze stars, including one for valor in combat, and yet that decorated combat leader had to leave the army because of don't ask, don't tell. i'm here because of staff sergeant eric alva, the first ground unit casualty of the war in iraq, the first casualty in the war in iraq was a gay soldier. the mine took off his right leg, and that mine that took off his right leg didn't give a darn whether he was gay or straight. we shouldn't either. we cannot let these patriots down. their suffering should end. it will end with the passage of this bill. i urge its passage today. it's the right thing to do. mr. inhofe: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from oklahoma. mr. inhofe: it's my understanding i have ten minutes. i would like to ask you to let me know when i have one minute remaining. the presiding officer: the chair will notify. mr. inhofe: first of all, mr. president, we ha

[applause] leaders like captain jonathan hopkins, who led a bullet -- platoon into northern iraq, quelling ethnic riot, earning a bronze star with valor. [applause] he was -- he was discharged only to receive letters and e-mails from his soldiers saying they had known he was gay all along and thought he was the best commander they ever had. [applause] there are a lot of stories like these -- stories that only underscore the importance of enlisting the service of all who are willing to fight for this country. that is why i hope those soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coastguardsman who have been discharged and this discriminatory policy will seek to reenlist once the repeal is implemented. [applause] that is why i say to all americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this country in uniform -- your country needs and wants you. we will be honored to welcome you into the ranks of the finest military this world has ever known. [applause] some of you remember i visited afghanistan just a few weeks ago. while i was walking along the road, there was a big crowd, about 3000