Posted on 01/06/2014 8:56:38 AM PST by hoagy62
Hal Faulkner is 79 years old and he's already lived months longer than his doctors predicted.
"I don't know what to say, it's just incredible that I'm still here," Faulkner says in a halting voice made gruff by age and cancer.
Faulkner joined the Marines in 1953, and served in the Philippines. In 1956, he got kicked out with an "undesirable discharge" for being gay. His military papers said "homosexual" on them, quite an obstacle in the 1950s.
Still, Faulkner moved on, and had a successful career in sales.
A few years ago, when he got diagnosed with terminal cancer, Faulkner contacted his family about a dying wish.
............
The Marines acted on his dying request in just two weeks. Last Friday in Florida, a small group presented Faulkner with his honorable discharge.
................
"I didn't think that maybe I would last through all the battles that we've had, but a Marine is always a Marine," Faulkner said at the ceremony.
As he spoke, two young Marines in uniform presented him with his papers. Air Force Lt. Col. John Gillespie, who is on the board of OutServe-SLDN, read the new discharge paper out loud.
Friends and family stood by, mostly in tears, including Fred Sainz of the Human Rights Campaign which pushed for years to allow gays in the military. Sainz hopes more veterans will get their records upgraded.
"What happened today is that a dying man, his dignity was restored," Sainz says. "He will die here knowing that he served his country honorably. You certainly can't right the wrong of six decades, [but] you can make it right going forward. And that's what happened today, and that's what we hope will come to thousands of American similarly situated."
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
Dear God....we have sunk SO low.
Did he?
More To This Story Alert.
Did he get his rainbow ribbon w/ pink pucker cluster?
What about all of those discharged for rape, adultery, theft, murder, arson, pedophilia, bigamy, robbery and etc. Where are their upgraded discharges? LOL
I have a gay friend (in his 80s now) who honorably served during Korea. Probably never mentioned his homosexuality and kept his hands to himself.
Don’t be so impatient — it’ll take a little more time.
Nidal Hassan clearly deserved an honorable discharge. A victim of Islamophobia!
I have zero problem with that situation. The gentleman mentioned in the article obviously did something that alerted his superiors to his sexual proclivities, which is why he was discharged in such a manner. Apples and oranges.
Well, I agree with you! Gay men have served honorably in the armed forces since forever. That why I said we needed a more in-depth look at this little tall tale...
Yes. . .and the fact he lied on his enlistment papers (where you deny homosexuality).
Even before he was a Marine, he lied.
Essentially. Same with Turing. During the war he kept picking up teenage boys who had runaway. The govt kept covering for him and telling him to knock it off. After the war when he kept getting busted they cut him loose and he got charged for picking up a runaway boy who claimed to be 19.
If he kept it in his pants or stuck to grown men, he’d have never been charged. But he kept insisting on going for young teen boys.
Dont know what this marine did to get chopped so hard but I’m doubting they found a signed picture of a shirtless Rock Hudson in his duffel bag.
His dignity was lost when his rectum fell out.
I have no problem with this man receiving an honorable discharge. I personally believe that homosexuals should keep their tendencies in the closet in order to preserve good order and discipline, but otherwise let them serve.
“What happened today is that a dying man, his dignity was restored,” Sainz says. “He will die here knowing that he served his country honorably. You certainly can’t right the wrong of six decades, [but] you can make it right going forward. And that’s what happened today, and that’s what we hope will come to thousands of American similarly situated.”
What a load of hooey. My dignity isn’t what others think or say. I served my country honorably, from 1988-1992. I served during a “war time” but not “in war”. Am I disappointed? No - I did my job, what was asked of me by those appointed above me. I fulfilled my oath. MY dignity is intact - regardless of what others may say about me being “in the rear with the gear”, a “REMF”, etc.
This crap just makes me fed up.
Of course, after his millionth year in the torment of hell, that discharge status might not seem so important.
Obama is always claiming to look for compromise.
Why not split the difference between an other than honorable discharge with the word HOMOSEXUAL on it and an honorable discharge by converting the discharge to a general discharge with the word FAGGOT on it?
I actually saw a guy do that very thing. Never found out what the hell he was thinking, guess he just didn't want to be there anymore.
Took a couple weeks to process, and during that time he was writing letters to his WIFE.
I venture to say they probably aren't married anymore, and he's probably had a difficult time in life because of that stupid decision.
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