Navy Upgrades Discharge Status of Gay Sailor…From World War II

Sunday, September 18, 2011
Melvin Dwork (photo: Interior Design)
The end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has impacted not only the soldiers of today, but those who served nearly 70 years ago.
 
In 1944, Melvin Dwork was kicked out of the U.S. Navy for being gay (apparently turned in by his boyfriend at the time during a “witch hunt”). The result was an “undesirable” discharge—something that haunted Dwork for decades and that he fought to have changed.
 
With the end of the military’s anti-homosexual policy, the Department of Defense has decided to correct Dwork’s official military record, marking his release from service as “honorable.”
 
It is the first time the Pentagon has taken such a step on behalf of a World War II veteran ostracized for his sexual orientation.
 
The 89-year-old former corpsman now will be eligible for benefits, including medical care and a military burial.
 
Approximately 100,000 troops were discharged from the armed services between World War II and 1993 for being gay or lesbian.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
 
In Focus: Navy to Upgrade Gay WWII Vet's Discharge (by Julie Watson, Associated Press)

Comments

james hogan 12 years ago
ditto to helen's well-phrased comment. thank you so much
helen trimm 12 years ago
to melvin dwork: sir, i am so very glad to hear that your record reads as it should have many years ago. thank you for your service to and for this country. i pray that henceforth life will be much better for you and yours. may god bless you each and every day of your life. again thank you for all you have done. sincerely. h trimm

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