RIP Patricia Kutteles, Gold Star mother and political activist

December 13, 2016 7:21 AM

In 1999, U.S. Army Private First Class Barry Winchell was murdered by a fellow soldier because Winchell was dating a trans woman. His mother, Patricia Kutteles, refused to accept the Army's official line of a drunken brawl gone wrong and got her son's killer sent to prison for life, and his roommate (who goaded the killer on) sent to prison for six years. She then sued the Army for wrongful death because her son's chain of command had not interceded in the harassment, and became one of the driving forces in the overturning of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Patricia Kutteles died last month, five years after DADT was repealed.
posted by Etrigan (25 comments total)

If any military mom deserved a gold star, it was Kutteles. She not only insisted on justice for her son, but probably also helped to save some other lives and careers.
posted by orange swan at 7:51 AM on December 13, 2016 [27 favorites]

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posted by thelonius at 7:55 AM on December 13, 2016

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posted by Lyme Drop at 7:58 AM on December 13, 2016

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posted by praemunire at 8:00 AM on December 13, 2016

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posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:03 AM on December 13, 2016

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posted by tonycpsu at 8:09 AM on December 13, 2016

☆
posted by FritoKAL at 8:11 AM on December 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

⭐️
posted by slater at 8:16 AM on December 13, 2016

⭐️
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:23 AM on December 13, 2016

I came in just after that, so I had no idea it was previously impossible to call 911 from base. I remember vaguely there was a "base 911" you were supposed to call first, but I don't recall 911 being disabled. I'm not sure who on God's green earth thought that would be a good idea. Thirty minutes response delay is insane.

I'm glad she was able to see DADT overturned before she passed.
posted by corb at 8:41 AM on December 13, 2016 [10 favorites]

Military bases are restricted access and are often locked down. They won't let visitors in without at least seeing your driver's license and inquiring what you are doing. So it makes sense that they would have their own emergency response number and it makes sense that they would disable 911 because they might not be able to access the base.
posted by Bee'sWing at 8:50 AM on December 13, 2016 [2 favorites]

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posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:01 AM on December 13, 2016

⭐️
posted by ursus_comiter at 9:16 AM on December 13, 2016

☆.

Mother and son.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 9:23 AM on December 13, 2016 [2 favorites]

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posted by seyirci at 10:06 AM on December 13, 2016

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posted by the sobsister at 10:14 AM on December 13, 2016

⭐️
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:16 AM on December 13, 2016

What an incredible woman and mom.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 11:20 AM on December 13, 2016

Rest in strength.
posted by Unioncat at 12:05 PM on December 13, 2016

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posted by spinifex23 at 12:35 PM on December 13, 2016

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posted by joycehealy at 12:47 PM on December 13, 2016

⭐️
posted by sobell at 1:44 PM on December 13, 2016

⭐️. For two people who served their country.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:05 PM on December 13, 2016

A REAL Gold Star Mother! • ⭐️
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:46 PM on December 14, 2016

⭐️
posted by stoneegg21 at 7:17 PM on December 17, 2016