Gay Soldier from PBS' Carrier Series Speaks out on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

On Friday, I posted an interview with Jeff Dupre, a producer on the PBS special documentary mini-series Carrier. Carrier is a character-driven total immersion in the high-stakes world of a nuclear air craft carrier. A team of 17 filmmakers spent 6 months on the USS Nimitz on a full deployment to the Persian Gulf. The 10-hour documentary began airing last night and continues on through Thursday on PBS from 9-11pm ET (check local listings).

One of the hours tonight is called "Super Secrets" and details some of the more hush-hush goings-on aboard the Nimitz, including several interviews with gay and lesbian service members. While those who are currently serving are pixellated in their interviews, one soldier you'll be able to see quite clearly is Brian Downey, who served as a quartermaster third class petty officer in the navigation department of the Nimitz.

Downey served four years in the Navy and is currently living in San Diego, working at a bar, and enrolling in school to be a medical assistant. Downey grew up on a Navajo reservation in the four corners area where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado come together.

I had the opportunity to ask Downey a few questions about his service and life aboard the Nimitz.

Did you anticipate any particular challenges coming aboard the Nimitz as a gay man?

I never saw anything as a real challenge. We all have our little jokes about our backgrounds just like anybody does. Nothing was ever really an issue. It was never really a struggle or anything. You kind of have to get along. You're gonna work with each other, you're gonna see each other.

Why did you decide to enlist in the Navy?

I wanted to enlist for one, to serve my country. I knew I would have to put a lot of things aside. I understood that I had to make a sacrifice and I feel like more of an enriched person because of it. I wanted to get out there, I wanted to learn what people were like. Everybody wants to see the world, you know, but I feel like being in this country and to have the freedoms that we have...I wanted to feel like I worked at least for what I have, or at least understood the reasons why I have it. Why do we do what we do? What's the price for freedom? It wasnt anything else. In all honesty I think it would be a great thing for a lot of people to do. I'm not an advocate of [telling people] 'hey you should be in the military,' or for the draft, or anything like that. [But the military] helps you understand more who we are as a people. That's the reason I did it.

What were your duties aboard the ship and did you know what you wanted to do before you enlisted?

The first day when I sat down and took a test, all these jobs came up. One thing that really caught my attention was 'aviation anti-submarine warfare systems operator (AW)'.'What they do are search and rescue missions. There's also an acoustic version of the job using radar. I just knew I wanted to get into search and rescue. It was very dynamic job. I ended up being part of one of the smallest departments on the ship but we had the huge responsibility of [ensuring the] overall safe navigation of the ship, making sure it goes where it needs to go and gets there safely. We're the primary assistants in the pilot house. That was my overall responsibility. I was also the logistics supplier for my department. For a brief time I was involved with charts but that's a huge responsibility that takes up all of your time.

Would you do it again?

I was in all four years. Did my duty. In all honesty it wouldn't bother me to go back if I ever got called back to serve as part of a war. But right now I'm enjoying my civilian life.

One of your other jobs, as we see in Carrier, was the raising and lowering of the flag?

Every day it comes down at sunset and goes up at sunrise. While we're in ports you put it up and there's a ceremony for it. And you treat it with respect while you're doing it. In ports, you're seen more often. It doesn't matter where you are, you treat it with respect. It was one part of my duties.

How was it serving under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'?

It wasn't really much of an issue for anybody. I can't speak for everybody, but for me it wasn't an issue. At the time I didn't have a problem with it. Before, when I said I had to make sacrifices, [I meant that] quite honestly there were far more things bigger than myself. I'm [not] there to make a statement, I'm there to do my job.

Did anybody who found out about your sexuality give you a hard time?

For the rest of this interview and more posts like this, click here...

Comments

[situationcritical]

?

What was that for?

[hrhjuli]

I watched some of Carrier last night. But I never got as far as the gay sailor which miight have changed my opinion somewhat.

I turned the series off because of what I perceived as right wing propaganda directed at young enlisted sailors. The Captain who delivers the line "lets go kill some terrorists".and a young male salior proclaiming his fealty to Bush are a few examples.

The lack of nuance about the occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan has led to many of the atrocities against civilians by the ground forces, but I guess not as relevent on board a ship. Nevertheless, I think these young patriots deserve some of the truth about their country's foreign policy. The current political reality in no way denigrates honorable military service.

I suppose also my first impression of the the Navy 06 in Carrier was prejudiced by a particular architype of Armry 06s that I knew once upon a time. They were rightwing-Christian crusading-­misogynist­ic- homophobic zealots which could explain my reaction.

Former Army Captain

[gonavy]

Watched the first two segments last night. Wonderfully done.

Downey has the right attitude, you are not there to make a statement, but to do your job and serve your country. The show really highlights that the military is very representative of the country as a whole. And more importantly, what we can accomplish when we put personal issues aside.

[ErnestineBass]

Judging by your screen name, I assume you have either served or are presently serving. I am curious about something.

What does a soldier or a sailor do if they don't believe in the righteousness of the conflict they're being sent into?

[gonavy]

They follow their orders. If they do not like it, they still follow their orders. When it comes time to reenlist, you have a choice to stay in or get out.

I believe there are ways to get out if one had a serious conflict, but I never had a need to look into those things.

I wish you would give the show a chance, there is stuff you will not agree with, but I think you will be surprised. These young people, so very young, are amazing.