Texas Man Grieves for Navy Partner Found Slain

By H. HUGHES

Updated 9:08 PM PST, Thu, Jul 2, 2009

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A Texas man grieves for his partner August Provost, who was found murdered at Camp Pendleton, while two members of Congress demand a full and complete investigation.

Kaether Cordero was the victim's lover and partner. Cordero says Provost did not hide his sexual orientation, and that could have been the motive for his murder.

"It's like a part of me is missing. I'm never going to get that part back," said Cordero.

Meanwhile, this local murder has sent shock waves from here to Texas to Washington D.C. The murder of Provost is now the focus of a national debate on the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, according to the Navy.

Congress members Bob Filner and Susan Davis urged the Marine Corps, the Defense Department and the House of Armed Services Committee to investigate this possible hate crime.

"I mean we have got to know what led to this, what the exact extent of the crime was, who did it and why," said Filner. "And I don't trust the military to give us this without pressure."

"It is critically important to know the motive behind this death, which I hope will be fully investigated," said Congresswoman Susan Davis.

August Provost, a 29-year-old Navy Seaman stationed at Camp Pendleton, was found dead early Tuesday in a guard shack on the base. Local gay activists say they have credible information Provost was the victim of an anti-gay hate crime.