As the city closes on the preordained decision to rename a street in honor of Harvey Milk, perhaps some may take a moment to remember those sacrificed in the name of Milk's political ambition.

Oliver Sipple was a twice-wounded combat Marine who served his country in Vietnam. On September 22, 1975 Mr. Sipple grabbed Sara Jane Moore as Moore prepared to shoot President Ford, saving his life. News stories reported Mr. Sipple's name and Harvey Milk left a message on a local gossip columnist's answering machine outing Mr. Sipple against Mr. Sipple's adamant wishes. Milk's excuse for this egregiously unethical act, robbing Mr. Sipple of his right to control his own life and story? According to author Randy Shilts, he said, "It's too good an opportunity. For once we can show that gays do heroic things, not just all that caca about molesting children and hanging out in bathrooms."

So Harvey Milk gets a street, but what does Oliver Sipple get? Estranged from his family who couldn't accept him, he died obese, depressed, broke and alone in a rundown apartment bordering the Tenderloin. He lay dead next to a bottle of bourbon for days before someone found him. But at least Harvey Milk was able to get some use out of him.

Patrick Cashman, Southwest Portland