BOISE - Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach says he was born to fly, but because he's gay the Air Combat Command has taken his wings. Tuesday, Fehrenbach came out on MSNBC.

Fehrenbach was not available for comment, and representatives from the Mountain Home Air Force Base could only distribute this statement from their Air Combat Command:

“Lt. Col. Fehrenbach is being processed for administrative separation for homosexual conduct, as defined by Air Force instructions implementing federal law, specifically, 10 USC 654.

This law requires the Department of Defense, and in turn the Department of the Air Force, to separate from the armed forces members who engage in or attempt to engage in homosexual acts. The law establishes the basis for separation from the armed forces as conduct, not orientation. The policy reflects the law, i.e., no military.

Adjutant of Idaho for Veterans of Foreign Wars Jack Cunningham says the military was right to discharge Fehrenbach and the pilot should have known better. But PrideDEPOT.com editor Jodi May-Chang says the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is hypocritical.

Fehrenbach says he doesn't understand why the Air Force would jettison him after his hundreds of hours of combat flying, millions of dollars in training and awards for heroism.