Alan G. Rogers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Greg Rogers
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| Born | September 21, 1967 |
| Died | January 27, 2008 (aged 40) Baghdad, Iraq |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1990–2008 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas |
| Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Awards | Bronze Star (2) Purple Heart |
| Other work | American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) |
Alan Greg Rogers (September 21, 1967 – January 27, 2008) was a U.S. Army major and intelligence officer. He was also an ordained pastor and an activist who worked for fairness and equality for all people serving in the military. His death in Iraq led to important discussions about a military policy called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). This policy meant that some service members could not openly share certain personal information while serving.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alan Greg Rogers was adopted at age 3 by George and Genny Rogers. He was their only child. In 1977, his family moved from New York City to Hampton, Florida. Alan went to Hampton Elementary School and later graduated from Bradford County High School in Starke, Florida, in 1985.
As a young man, Alan became an ordained pastor at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Lincoln City, Florida. In high school, he was the commander of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. His classmates even voted him "most intellectual."
Military Career and Adult Life
After high school, Alan joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion in 1995. After graduating, he became an officer in the United States Army. Later, he earned a Master of Arts degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix through online learning.
In 2000, Alan's father, George, passed away from a heart attack. Two weeks later, his mother, Genny, also passed away. Alan preached at his mother's funeral.
In 2001, Major Rogers commanded a military intelligence company in Waegwan, South Korea. He focused on keeping his unit's spirits high and making sure everyone worked well together. He often organized company events and get-togethers.
In 2004, Major Rogers moved to Washington, D.C.. In 2005, he earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University. Only 25 Army officers were accepted into this program. His professor, Mark Nadel, said that Alan had strong leadership qualities. Alan's master's thesis looked at how the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy affected how the military found and kept officers. Because of his achievements at Georgetown, Alan got an internship at the Pentagon. He worked for the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon R. England.
Starting in October 2004, Major Rogers served as Treasurer for the Washington, D.C. chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER). This group works for fairness for all veterans. In January 2005, he received an award from AVER for his service. He also supported the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), which worked to end the DADT policy.
Major Rogers shared his thoughts on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy in his master's thesis in 2005. He wrote that the policy was based on wrong ideas and that it hurt national security by not allowing all service members to serve openly and with dignity.
In July 2007, Major Rogers was sent to Iraq. Friends held a send-off party for him in Washington, D.C. His commanding officer in Iraq was Col. Thomas Fernandez. Major Rogers kept in touch with many friends through email while he was deployed. He even emailed two friends the day before he passed away.
Death and Burial
Major Alan Greg Rogers passed away on January 27, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq. An Army report stated that he was killed by an explosive device while on foot patrol.
On January 30, 2008, Major Rogers's friends started the Alan G. Rogers Memorial Scholarship Fund. A funeral service was held for him on February 8, 2008, at Ebenezer Baptist Church. To honor Major Rogers, Florida Governor Charlie Crist ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in several locations.
Major Rogers was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on March 14, 2008. About 200 people attended the service. This included Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Army Lt. Gen. John F. Kimmons, active duty military personnel, and Major Rogers's friends and family.
National Media Coverage
Major Rogers's funeral received attention from national news outlets like MSNBC, The Washington Post, and National Public Radio. At first, these reports did not mention his activism for fairness in the military.
His death and funeral gained more media attention when it was revealed that he was an activist working to end the military's DADT policy. This policy was a big topic of discussion at the time. Some people felt that the initial news reports should have included more information about Major Rogers's life and his work for equality.
The Washington Post later admitted that their article "would have been richer" if it had included details about his activism and his views on the DADT policy.
In December 2010, the U.S. Congress passed a bill to potentially end the DADT policy. This policy was officially repealed on September 20, 2011, allowing all service members to serve openly.
Awards
See Also
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Images for kids
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Major Alan G. Rogers at a ceremony
