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The value of this book lies in its compilation of first-person, firsthand stories from WWII veterans about being gay or lesbian and in the service during the worst war ever fought. From how they answered the single psych screening question at induction: "Do you like girls."; to the gleeful sneaking around in basic or on base; to the heartbreaking stories of lovers losing each other on the battlefield, and the shocking humanity of straight comrades who found out; to the awfulness of being outed and the shame of the blue discharge--the vets' stories make this book worthwhile. When the book delves deep into policy discussions, or asserts its thesis that the GLBT experience in WWII helped structure the gay liberation movement of a generation later, it loses impact. Still, a worthwhile and necessary addition to any library about gay history, or World War II.
This is a very well-researched study of a subject that has long been hidden and ignored. In addition to being a top-quality study of America's treatment of gay & lesbian citizens in the WW II era, it is also important to help understand today's attitudes and problems. Most revealing is how the military's post-war changes in attitude propelled America's evolution into a homophobic nation.
This work is of sole academic interest. It would be particularly so to students of WW11, or the social history of the USA. It is a good read and quite informative regarding the lives of citizens who were to give us the modern society in which we live today.
"Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II," by Allan Berube, is a fascinating and well-written piece of American history. There are also extensive endnotes. Ultimately he looks at the impact of WW2 on the evolution of gay culture and political activism. Among the topics he covers are the following: the process of being inducted into the armed forces in that era, the experiences of gay people in the training phase, gay social life stateside (particularly in the major port cities), the threat of harassment by military police, the role of military psychiatrists in our culture's evolving understanding of homosexuality, and the experiences of gay soldiers in combat.Berube also reveals the tensions that occurred within the military establishment as efforts were made to refine and reform policies dealing with homosexuality. Military," which focuses on the post-WW2 era. He discusses the interrogation and imprisonment of gay troops. The author draws from a rich variety of sources in order to tell this story. Throughout the book, Berube brings forth the voices of many WW2 veterans.
Other interesting topics covered are gay slang and coded language, and the use of female impersonators in GI shows like "This Is the Army."The book includes a number of black-and-white photographs and reproductions. There is also a note on sources used, such as interviews, letters, and government documents. I consider this book to be an essential companion to Randy Shilts' monumental "Conduct Unbecoming: Gays & Lesbians in the U.S. "Coming Out Under Fire" is a remarkable achievement: poignant and inspiring, it is a valuable addition to the fields of both lesbian and gay studies and military history.
However, there are episodes in our great nation's history which cause us to feel anger, contempt and sorrow. One has only to scan the first chapter to begin cringing at the shameful way that gay and lesbian soldiers were treated by their own government. Simply stated, this was not an easy book to read. We must remember that it was "we the people" who allowed the near genocide of America's indigenous peoples; the enslavement of hundreds of thousands of Africans; the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII; the persecution of American Leftists during the McCarthy era; and, just as egregious, the wanton and callus betrayal of American soldiers who's only crime was being born gay or lesbian. It can certainly be said that The United States of America has more to be proud of than most nations. Our achievements are many and justly celebrated. Stories of inhuman degradation at the hands of a malicious psychiatric community bent on establishing a solid and permanent reputation within the medical community, are plentiful.The great majority of these men and women served the Untied States with distinction. That their patriotism was met with contempt, and their lives often ruined by a "blue" discharge, is a stain on our nation's honor.
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