I'm an old man -a gay old man - I enlisted in the U.S. Navy - during the draft - in Feb. of 1964 - my time was one of respect for the office of the President and Patriotism was everywhere - homosexuals weren't mentioned anywhere in polite society - color T.V. was still in its infancy - a few gays were still being institutionalized in mental hospitals for being gay and the time of lobotimizing them was not so far off (in the 50's) although electro-shock was still commonly used.
My ship was the first transferred to Viet-Nam duty from the East Coast and we were on SAR duty (sea & air rescue)off of Hanoi Harbor.
We watched American Airmen fly into Vietnamese territory with their bomb and missle laden planes, fat with eggs of death. They came back shot up, sometimes barely able to control or fly their planes - they knew we were there to pick them up when they could'nt possibly go any further - so they crashed into the sea quite near us with the hope that they would get out alive.
We always managed to pick them up. Some times we had to get quite near to the coast to rescue them and once even went into Hanoi Harbor itself...on those occasions we drew fire from the beaches and land installations.
You have no idea of the terror when you're hearing in your headset the words 'incoming missles' all the while you're listening to the pinging of constant machine gun bullets hitting the ship, especially when you're 4 decks down and you know - YOU KNOW - that you'll neven get up those frigging decks if we would take a direct hit.
On the way to Viet-Nam, I re-enlisted -on board ship - for a further tour of duty - I was at the top of my game then - in rank and conduct with medals earned for good conduct and other campaigns hopefully including a Vietnam Service medal.
I was discharged at Treasure Island, San Francisco with an Less than Honorable Discharge in late Sept. of 1967.
While awaiting discharge we were held in a barracks half of which contained sailor and marines up on charges of murder, rape, theft - mostly hard-core criminals.
The guards/staff at the barracks were bigoted bullies and we were harrased at every turn. Our heads were shaved and we were marched around base in peculiar green overalls - I think 'prisoner' was stencilled on the backs - we were assigned humiliating detail work, cleaning garbage dumsters full of maggoty refuse baking in the hot sun and anything else those bastard guards could think of...
The hardest part was the nights listening to the sobs and weeping of those being discharged whose only crime was being gay. I remember a couple of guys particularily. One was an older Chief Petty Officer with 16 years of service - career military - his life in tatters and the other was a Marine - God-like in physique, absolutely one of the handsomest men I have ever seen. Screaming to all and sundry - almost constantly, I'M NOT GAY ! - I'M NOT GAY ! I'M NOT GAY ! that's all he would say, over and over and over again into the night.
The day before we were discharged we were taken into a used clothing store down on the waterfront, I think and we were given - we didn't have a choice - of civilian clothing that was clown like - that's what I thought anyway. I remember the putrescent metallic green womans raincoat with butter yellow outsized buttons that I had been given - the poka-dot shirt and the ill-fitting orange pants whose cuffs were up around my ankles - the shoes were worn, scuffed and battered and a size too big - all of this stuff was thrown at you by a 'clerk' whose attitute was that of amusement. The weirder the combination was the more amused he got until he was outright laughing at our situation.
I remember we were told repeatedly that we weren't going to be able to get jobs 'out there', that we were worthless, that we might as well do our relatives a favor and just end it all.
I had telegraphed my father asking him - since I had disgraced the family whether he wanted me to come home - he replied that they loved me, yes to come home and enclosed a money order for $500. - my Uncle was career Navy and had the forsight to tell my father what I might need - I bought new clothes at the Navy PX - our last night on base we were given some freedom and the next day early in the A.M we were given our papers and taken to the base gates and dumped. The bus to the airport was a public bus and at the airport I was injected into a different world - hippies and anti-war sloganeers - I was travelling on a military ticket and the clerk mentioned that I was lucky that I was in Civilian Clothes as those traveling in uniform got a hard time from the anti-war folk.
When I got home it was almost a full year before I could actually force myself to get out. My dad had actually gotten from somewhere - I know this had to have been difficult for him - the addresses of several gay bars in downtown Philly and he gave me $50. and said 'get out there and explore - go find yourself - you're not going to do it here'.
We have as a brother and sisterhood come so far from those days - you young people just don't know - don't realize just how far we've advanced - in some areas of the country they were pulling gay couples out of their homes and murdering them - they just disappeared - the local police knew but they were in on it. Gays were AFRAID of coming out - scared to death isn't so far from the truth.
Looking back at those years I can see huge leaps of advancement and we are so close - so close - to being recognized as equals. Appreciate every crumb, every little advancement that is mortar in the wall of equality...and push for more.
You guys are right in demanding the whole enchilada NOW and you are right to be pissed --- fight for our rights. Some of us are old and tired but we're here and with you in every sense.
My ship was the first transferred to Viet-Nam duty from the East Coast and we were on SAR duty (sea & air rescue)off of Hanoi Harbor.
We watched American Airmen fly into Vietnamese territory with their bomb and missle laden planes, fat with eggs of death. They came back shot up, sometimes barely able to control or fly their planes - they knew we were there to pick them up when they could'nt possibly go any further - so they crashed into the sea quite near us with the hope that they would get out alive.
We always managed to pick them up. Some times we had to get quite near to the coast to rescue them and once even went into Hanoi Harbor itself...on those occasions we drew fire from the beaches and land installations.
You have no idea of the terror when you're hearing in your headset the words 'incoming missles' all the while you're listening to the pinging of constant machine gun bullets hitting the ship, especially when you're 4 decks down and you know - YOU KNOW - that you'll neven get up those frigging decks if we would take a direct hit.
On the way to Viet-Nam, I re-enlisted -on board ship - for a further tour of duty - I was at the top of my game then - in rank and conduct with medals earned for good conduct and other campaigns hopefully including a Vietnam Service medal.
I was discharged at Treasure Island, San Francisco with an Less than Honorable Discharge in late Sept. of 1967.
While awaiting discharge we were held in a barracks half of which contained sailor and marines up on charges of murder, rape, theft - mostly hard-core criminals.
The guards/staff at the barracks were bigoted bullies and we were harrased at every turn. Our heads were shaved and we were marched around base in peculiar green overalls - I think 'prisoner' was stencilled on the backs - we were assigned humiliating detail work, cleaning garbage dumsters full of maggoty refuse baking in the hot sun and anything else those bastard guards could think of...
The hardest part was the nights listening to the sobs and weeping of those being discharged whose only crime was being gay. I remember a couple of guys particularily. One was an older Chief Petty Officer with 16 years of service - career military - his life in tatters and the other was a Marine - God-like in physique, absolutely one of the handsomest men I have ever seen. Screaming to all and sundry - almost constantly, I'M NOT GAY ! - I'M NOT GAY ! I'M NOT GAY ! that's all he would say, over and over and over again into the night.
The day before we were discharged we were taken into a used clothing store down on the waterfront, I think and we were given - we didn't have a choice - of civilian clothing that was clown like - that's what I thought anyway. I remember the putrescent metallic green womans raincoat with butter yellow outsized buttons that I had been given - the poka-dot shirt and the ill-fitting orange pants whose cuffs were up around my ankles - the shoes were worn, scuffed and battered and a size too big - all of this stuff was thrown at you by a 'clerk' whose attitute was that of amusement. The weirder the combination was the more amused he got until he was outright laughing at our situation.
I remember we were told repeatedly that we weren't going to be able to get jobs 'out there', that we were worthless, that we might as well do our relatives a favor and just end it all.
I had telegraphed my father asking him - since I had disgraced the family whether he wanted me to come home - he replied that they loved me, yes to come home and enclosed a money order for $500. - my Uncle was career Navy and had the forsight to tell my father what I might need - I bought new clothes at the Navy PX - our last night on base we were given some freedom and the next day early in the A.M we were given our papers and taken to the base gates and dumped. The bus to the airport was a public bus and at the airport I was injected into a different world - hippies and anti-war sloganeers - I was travelling on a military ticket and the clerk mentioned that I was lucky that I was in Civilian Clothes as those traveling in uniform got a hard time from the anti-war folk.
When I got home it was almost a full year before I could actually force myself to get out. My dad had actually gotten from somewhere - I know this had to have been difficult for him - the addresses of several gay bars in downtown Philly and he gave me $50. and said 'get out there and explore - go find yourself - you're not going to do it here'.
We have as a brother and sisterhood come so far from those days - you young people just don't know - don't realize just how far we've advanced - in some areas of the country they were pulling gay couples out of their homes and murdering them - they just disappeared - the local police knew but they were in on it. Gays were AFRAID of coming out - scared to death isn't so far from the truth.
Looking back at those years I can see huge leaps of advancement and we are so close - so close - to being recognized as equals. Appreciate every crumb, every little advancement that is mortar in the wall of equality...and push for more.
You guys are right in demanding the whole enchilada NOW and you are right to be pissed --- fight for our rights. Some of us are old and tired but we're here and with you in every sense.
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What or where do I begin. I got chills reading this and then shed a tear. I wish in some way I could be in touch with this hero.
I organized the Same Sex Weddings in New Paltz NY in 2004 and was the first coupled married. I married a Gulf War I Verteran, a Maj. in the 82nd Airborne.
I organized the Same Sex Weddings in New Paltz NY in 2004 and was the first coupled married. I married a Gulf War I Verteran, a Maj. in the 82nd Airborne.
I did this facing jail time and with many death threats for all gay people. I feel proud I put my life on the line and in my own little way everyday I still fight for my rights and all Americans rights because when one segment of our population is discriminated against we open the door to many other types of discrimination.
We should all stand up, elected officials or not, and say America does not discriminate against anyone plain and simple!
I am so very sorry for what happened to this sailor and to the untold numbers who have suffered and continue to suffer as Second Class Citizens.
The Brave Gay Heros of the 21st Century are out fighting for our rights and standing up and shouting as they should! Let everyone know we will not be put down any longer! Enough is enough!
We should all stand up, elected officials or not, and say America does not discriminate against anyone plain and simple!
I am so very sorry for what happened to this sailor and to the untold numbers who have suffered and continue to suffer as Second Class Citizens.
The Brave Gay Heros of the 21st Century are out fighting for our rights and standing up and shouting as they should! Let everyone know we will not be put down any longer! Enough is enough!
This new year I have decided to FIGHT DISCRIMINATION WITH DISCRIMINATION! republicans are not welcome on my farm! Not one New York State republican State Senator voted the end Gay Apartheid in NY! My farm Liberty View Farm was rated Top ten in America last year we grow organically and I will be damed if republicans will have benefit from the fruit of my hard labor. No matter how you slice it republicans do not believe in a clean environment, peace, univerasal health care or equlity. Let them feel what it is to be discriminated.
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