My father served in the U.S. Army during 1951-53. He enlisted in Washington County, ME, because his Congresscritter told him he was about to be drafted by the Marine Corps (yes, the USMC did draft in the early days of the Korean War). Because the USAF slots were filled that day, he chose the Army and requested paratrooper training. He was stationed at Ft. Benning, Columbus, GA, in the 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. As a 20 year-old private, he was travelling on a liberty pass through Atlanta, GA, sometime during 1951. He went to see a movie at the famous Fox Theater on Peachtree Street. The Korean War was raging, so it was fairly common to see troops on leave in uniform. He, of course, was in uniform. While sitting in the theater an older white man in a business suit sat down next to him and put his hand on Dad’s knee. Dad removed his hand. The homosexual tried it again. Dad punched him out. He was reported by someone, and the MPs were on Dad very quickly. They escorted Dad 2 blocks to the bus station and put him on a bus back to Ft. Benning. The MPs forwarded a report to his company commander. Dad was very worried what would happen to him. Back at Ft. Benning he was summoned before his company commander for a hearing. The captain (who was probably between 25-27 years old) asked Dad, “Private, what happened.” Dad told him. The captain responded, “You’re dismissed, corporal.” We never thought to ask Dad whether he already had a promotion in process and the captain chose to present him with it at that time, or if the captain’s direct action represented a military culture of manhood, aggression, and morality which recognized and encouraged such traits in a young paratrooper.
We lost Dad 2 years ago to dementia. He would not believe how this nation has collapsed seemingly overnight.