At twenty years old I was already a two year Navy veteran with a third class
stripe on my sleeve, stationed aboard a destroyer in Mayport Florida right outside
the Naval air station in Jacksonville.I shared a room in the baracks (when the ship
was in port) with a very dear fellow, also from Detroit, that I came to call friend.
Well, he came to me one night, his face sweating thru his foundation in the Florida
heat and with a shallow voice said, "Dana, wake up, ime going home".I remember
sitting straight up in my rack and said "what, your going where". "I am going home.
I have declared myself homosexual, they have issued me an admin (less than
honorable) discharge, and have asked me to leave the base asap." I had never
known a loss befor, at least not the loss of a friend. We had shared so much
talk and laughter. Had chided others not to do so but had mocked the Chief and
his country manerisms.Had ate our meals together and talked of back home, the
MOTOWN sound, hanging out, girls, our sexuality, the future....everything happened.
And the US Navy was not asking him, but making him go home because of his
sexual orientation. I never saw him again. When you hear the news tonight about
the armed forces finally dropping this rediculous principle and finally letting people
serve as an openly gay or transgendered person, without redicule or threat
without bigotry or slant, say to yourself, this is a great day........dana.
who me, a sissy?
Originally Posted by Vieja
Most of them have a hard time in the military because the majority of soldiers are always from the city. My grandpa got made fun of all through basic because of it. They would put rocks in his boots at night, to make him feel more at home while marching (shoes are not a necessity in the south). I think what every redneck needs is to go in the military. It definitely gives them a kick in the rear end as far as tolerance of others goes. It probably does the same for anyone, but they especially need it.
