Anthony Woods, a gay African-American Army veteran, who won one of the nation'shighest medals for bravery, has announced that he will add his name tothe growing list of Democrats seeking to replace the outgoing U.S. Rep.Ellen Tauscher in the 10th Congressional District.

Woods, who announced his candidacy late Monday, immediately joins a crowdedcandidate field includes Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and freshmanAssemblywoman Joan Buchanan.

A West Point graduate who rose to the rank of captain in the Army, Woodsserved two tours in Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star for leadingtroops of the 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment at the Battle of Tal Afar inJune 2005. The medal is the 4th highest combat-related decorationawarded in the U.S. military.

He ended his military career last year when he told his commanding officer that he was gay. Woodswas subsequently released from the Army with an honorable dischargeunder its "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy which prohibits openhomosexuals from serving in the ranks.

"I just got tired of living a lie," the 29-year-old Woodstold the Sacramento Bee during last weekend's California DemocraticParty Convention. "I spent four years at West Point living andbreathing the Honor Code. So I made the decision to tell my commander."

In addition to discharging him, the Army also demanded Woodsrepay the $35,000 in educational benefits he received. Nevertheless,Woods went on to secure a master's degree from Harvard University's KennedySchool of Government.

While Tauscher stillmust hurdle U.S. Senate confirmation as undersecretary of state in theObama Administration, the field of people seeking to replace her hasgrown in recent days. In addition to Woods, Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier are all gunning for the post.

Once Tauscher is confirmed, a special election for the seat will be scheduled for sometime this summer.

Click here for additional California Independent Voter Project coverage on the 10th Congressional District special election.

Follow Jeff Mitchell's Bay Area political reporting at BAPolitix.org