Ousted as Gay, Aging Veterans Are Battling Again for Honorable Discharges

[steve2470]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/us/gay-veterans-push-for-honorable-discharges-they-were-denied.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the Army discharged Pvt. Donald Hallman in 1955 for being what it called a “Class II homosexual,” the 21-year-old was so scared of being an outcast that he burned all his military records, save for a single dog tag he hid away.

Mr. Hallman, a coal miner’s son who sang in a church choir in rural Alabama, says he never mentioned his military service again. He married a woman he had met at work, had children and wore a suit and tie to work each day.

“I hid it because it would have ruined my life,” Mr. Hallman said in an interview at his home here.

But this summer, Mr. Hallman, now 82, retrieved the dog tag from a keepsake box and began working through an application to the Department of Defense, asking that his decades-old discharge be upgraded from “undesirable” to “honorable.”

[Journeyman]

1. Can someone explain the cryptic "Class II homosexual"? . . .

I don't want to go to the NY Times site just to learn some military idiocy.

[GP6971]

2. The difference wasn't mentioned in the article

But if recall correctly, class I involved violence and Class II was nonviolent participation in homosexual activities.

[Journeyman]

6. That would make sense, from a military point of view . . .

Thanks for the explanation.

[GP6971]

8. Your welcome.

Had to look it up myself after I posted my reply......and that's the criteria according to Wiki.

[DirkGently]

3. KNR. FYI this was posted earlier today though.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7147697


We need to simply get these folks their honorable discharges en masse.

[HuckleB]

4. This is a very important story! KICK! RECOMMEND!

[Lee-Lee]

5. This needs to be a priority and it needs to be streamlined

Because if it is left to the usual VA bureaucracy most of them won't live to see it happen, much less be able to use any of the benefits they have thus far been denied.

[GP6971]

7. It's been in Congress (legistralation to grant upgraded discharges)

since 2013 with little possiility of passing yet alone being voted on. Republicans doing what they do best, obstruct.