Coming Out Under Fire: the History of Gay Men and Women In World War II, by Allan Berube (HC, 1990, $3.50)
The armed services racially integrated shortly after the end of the war, but only now can gay and lesbian soldiers openly serve.
Gay WWII soldiers knew consequences of being outed were severe. There were incarcerations in the military's "queer stockades", discharges without a trial for those thought to be gay, while those homosexuals who were considered essential were allowed to stay in uniform. "Gay and Lesbians soldiers discovered that they were fighting two wars: one for America, democracy, and freedom; the other for their own survival as homosexuals within the military organization."
Look for this book in the WWII military history section, avail. 11/2.
