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82-Year-Old Vet Wants Gay Dishonorable Discharge Removed from Military Record
An 82-year-old military veteran, Donald Hallman, is determined to clear his name.
The senior citizen has asked the military to remove his decades-old dishonorable discharge for being a “Class II homosexual.” According to American Veterans for Equal Rights, an estimated 114,000 soldiers were given a dishonorable discharge and drummed out of the service before the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was repealed in 2011. Members of the military are now allowed to serve openly.
The designation has tangible repercussions beyond the psychological pain the discharges caused. Not only does it disqualify veterans from receiving benefits, but it can also make it harder to find a job if the applicant lists their military service. Plus, the Veterans Association can now deny benefits to someone who’s discharge was the result of “aggravating circumstances” such as desertion, refusal to follow orders, or any misconduct leading to a court martial.
Gay veterans can apply to change their discharge status, but the requests must be done individually and can take years to accomplish. Many veterans rack up enormous legal bills fighting the designation. And it is the individual’s responsibility to prove the discharge was wrongly assigned.
Democratic congressmen Mark Pocan and Charlie Rangel introduced legislation in 2013 to streamline veterans appeals for removing the designation, but despite 102 bipartisan co-sponsors, the legislation died in a congressional term most noted for its lack of cooperation and achievements. Senator Brian Schatz introduced similar legislation earlier this year, but it has not moved forward.
“As an American, a congressman, and a Korean War veteran, I was proud to join my colleagues in ending the discriminatory law that previously barred open gay and lesbian soldiers from serving their country,” said Rep. Rangel when introducing his 2013 proposal. “Now is the time to finish the job and ensure that all those who served honorably are recognized for their honorable service regardless of their sexual orientation.”
Watch below as Hallman makes his case to CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield.
Bil Browning
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