American Veterans for Equal Rights, 15 years of work
AVER Home
about AVER
membership
local chapters
officers
contacts
special projects
news & press
action alerts
photo gallery
member activity
veterans affairs
links
coming out day
sponsors
NVCOD - 11 October 2005-2006
National Veterans Coming Out Day
1,000,000 LGBT Veterans COME OUT for
the 65,000 service members who CAN'T
!

Meet the LGBT veterans who proudly served our nation, and who are now Out and Proud.
anonymous veterans are placed in order simply for ease of organization. We will be adding continually as more registries come in, and National Veterans Coming Out lists come in from AVER's 24 local chapters.

Read many of their bio's here:
A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.

AVERAGE TIME IN SERVICE : 10 YEARS 3 MONTHS
AVERAGE ENLISTED RANK : E6
AVERAGE COMMISSIONED RANK : O3-P
Name
State
Branch
Yrs/Mo
Rank
Awards, Citations, Letters
Miss Calpernia Addams
California
USN
4y11m
E4
Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, SouthWest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
Mr. John C. Ames
Texas
USAF
7y4m
O3
15th Air Force Public Affairs Company Grade Officer of the Year 1989
Mr. James Apedaile
Missouri
USRA
7y10m
E6
National Defense Service Medal; Army Achievement Medal w/1 OLC; Army Good Conduct Medal 2nd Award; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development
Ribbon (2); Air Assault Badge; Parachute Badge; Driver & Mechanic Badge (W); Recruiter Badge w/ 3 gold stars; Expert Qualification (M-16)
Mr. Felix Arrieta
Texas
USAF
22y7m
E5
Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Enduring Freedom
Mr. Clifton F. Arnesen
Massachusetts
USRA
1y1m
E1
(not listed)
Ms. Lara Ballard
District of Columbia

USRA
8yrs
O3
2 Army Commendation Medals, Southwest Asia Service Medal with Battle Star, and various other awards and decorations
Ms. Randi A. Barnabee
Ohio
USCG
19y8m
O3
Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Army Aviator (Pilot) Wings, Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation
Mr. Joseph M. Beagan
Illinois
USN
8yrs
E4
(not listed)
Ms. Marie Bohusch
Ohio
USRA
4yrs
E4
Army Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sharpshooter Badge - Rifle
Mr. Steve Brahm
Washington
USAF
13y5m
O3
(not listed)
Ms. Judi Carey
Washington
USCG
20y7m
E7
"too many to remember right now..."
Mr. Thomas Carpenter
California
USMC
6y7m
O3
Distinguished Military Graduate USNA, Naval Aviator, Naval Parachutist, Nuclear Delivery Pilot,Squadron Operations Officer, Administrative Officer, Legal Officer. Graduate of The Basic School, Naval Flight School, Nuclear Safety Officer School, Legal Administrative School, Army Parachute School. Rifle and Pistol Expert. Top Gun Second Marine Aircraft Wing.
anonymous - Lesbian
Service Member
USRA
E3
(not listed)
anonymous - Gay
Service Member
USRA
O4
MSMs, Senior Aviator, Air Assault, Airborne, Afghan Campaign Medal, and NATO Medal.
Mr. John Cook
Maine
USN
6y2m
E5
(not listed)
Mr. Thomas Cook
Texas
USRA
2y9m
E4
Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, and others. Cook in Cook V Rumsfeld
anonymous
Alabama
USRA
5y10m
E5
Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal (8th Award), Driver and Mechanic Badge, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Distinguished Honor Graduate, PLDC; NCO of the Year, 90th PSB; NCO of the Quarter (2d Award), 90th PSB
Ms. Desirae DeShane
North Carolina
USRA
4yrs
E4
Global War on Terrorism, National Service Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal [2], ARCOM, Good Conduct Medal
Mr. James P. Donovan
Illinois
USN
30yrs
E7
Chief Hospital Corpsman. Good conduct medals, Navy Reserve Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon
Ms. Amanda Farrell
New Jersey
USRA
1y10m
E4
Combat lifesaver, Air Assault
Miss Wendi Goodman
New Mexico

USRA
18y3m
E6
(not listed)
Mr. Bill J. Helwig
California
USRA
20y3m
O4
Bronze Star Medal (1OLC); Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC); Army Commendation Medal (2OLC); National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Meritorious Unit Citation; RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm (Unit Citation)
Mr. David A Hurley
Kentucky
USN
4yrs
E4
(not listed)

Mr. Nick Jackman
Washington
USCG
19y5m
E7
Nat.Def Medal w/bronze star, CG Good Conduct Medal x5, Arctic Service Medal w/bronze star, Antarctic Service Medal, Humane Service Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Expert Pistol Shot Medal, Expert Rifle Shot Medal, Permanent Cutterman's Pin, Ribbons include Sea Service, Overseas Service, Commandant's Letter of Commendation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Other Citations:U.S.Navy League, Sailor of the Year, Greater Antilles Section 1981. Commanding Officer's Letter of Appreciation - Boiler Fire USCGC Hamilton (WHEC -715)
Mr. Anthony D Johnson
Kentucky
USAF
13y5m
E6
Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal,Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Bronze oak leaf, Air Force Organizational Award w/bronze V, Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/silver oak leaf, Berlin Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal w/bronze oak leaf, Viet Nam Service Medal w/bronze star, Air Force Overseas Short Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Long Ribbon w/bronze oak leaf, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon w/4 bronze oak leaf's
Mr. Pepe N. Johnson
Texas
USRA
3y1m
E5
Fort Sill Soldier of the Year (2001), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (5OLC)
Mr. Sean Kelly
Arizona
USRA
6yrs
E4
Army Acheivement Medal, Good Conduct
Ms. Andrea Kool-Tucker
Ohio
USRA
18yrs
E8
(not listed)
Mr. Roger Lane
Illinois
USRA
4yrs
E4
(not listed)
anonymous
Nebraska
USRA
9y11m
E5
(not listed)
anonymous
Hawai'i
USMC
11yrs
E6
Many letters of commendation, Viet Nam Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, Expert Rifle, Sharpshooter Side Arm
Mr. Steve Loomis
New Mexico
USRA
19y9m
O5
2 Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, Air Medal, 4 Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Army Achievement Medals, Combat Infantry Badge, and others
Mr. Walter Novak
California
USRA
2yrs
E5
(not listed)
Mr. Glenn A. Patterson
Florida
USAF
4yrs
E5
Commendation medal for meritorious service while in Vietnam.
Miss Margaret K. Penn
New Jersey
USRA
12y5m
E4
Distinguish Graduate of the Defense Mapping School - Printing and Bindery Specialist MOS 81F. Overseas Service Ribbon (2) (Panama, Belgium), Army Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Army Good Conduct Medal (3), Army Achievement Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (2), Joint Service Commendation Medal (US Army NATO), Joint Meritorious Unit Award. Marksmanship badges (Rifle-Expert) (Grenade-Sharpshooter) (Machine Gun-Marksman), Operator badges (Driver-W) (Operator-S), coins for various volunteer activities such as; funeral detail, parade detail, and mail room support; various letters and certificates of Appreciation and Commendation
Mr. Ray Post
California
USN
4y8m
E4
honorable discharge
Mr. Michael Prah
California
USN
2yrs
O1
Midshipman 3/c, USNA,
DOD Service Medal, Pistol Expert Badge, Rifle Sharpshooter Badge,
Appointed to USNA by Congressman Clement Zablocki (D-WI)

Dr. Michael Rankin
Virginia
USN
34yrs
O6
Vietnam Service, Navy Commendation, Navy Reserve, Good Conduct
Mr. Alan Reeser
Arizona
USAF
20y1m
E6
(not listed)
Mr. A.J. Rogue
Colorado
USN
7y11m
E6
Scuba/Jump Qualified Aircrew Wings -- 8294, In-flight Medical Specialist. Several letters of commendation, including several for rescue efforts during the 1981 Colorado River Flood
Mr. Harold Eugene -
Roark, Jr.
Ohio
USN
24yrs
E5
Army Commendation, Air Force Achievement, Navy Good Conduct x3, National Defense x2, Navy Marine Corps Expeditionary Ribbon x4, numerous Letters of Commendation
Mr. Todd Shinkle
Ohio
USRA
6y3m
E4
Airborne, Air Assault, Combat Lifesaver, Light Leader's "Ranger" Qualified, Army Accommodation Medal
anonymous
Arizona
USAF
11y8m
E6
AF Commendation, AF Achievement, Combat Readiness, Marksmanship
Mr. Tony Smith
Virginia
USAF
5y7m
E4
(not listed)
Mr. Robert Stout
Ohio
USRA
4y11m
E5
purple heart, army good conduct medal, army achievement medal (3rd), army commendation medal (2nd), national defense medal, kosovo campaign medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global war on terrorism service and expeditionary medals, army service ribbon, overseas service ribbon, nato medal and drivers badge wheeled and track
Rev. Millard Vincent -
Turner
Massachusetts
USAF
4yrs
E5

Good Conduct Medal,
Outstanding Unit Award, 3 letters of commendation. Consistently rated in top 10% of peer group. Promoted to SSGT before age 21. At age 21 made OPS Supervisor of O/S Intel Unit

Mr. Michael J. Warner
Ohio

USN
26y1m
E8
Meritorius Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medals, 6 Good Conducts, Meritorious Unit Citation, 4 Battle "E"s, etc.
Mr. Robert E. Weaver
Georgia

USAF
11yrs
E5
10 medals, unspecified; nominated for Airman and NCO of the month a few times, received it once.
Mr. Steven M. Webb
Mississippi

USN
4y5m
E5
awarded navy achievement medal...served in operation desert storm onboard the USS AMERICA with VFA-86
Mr. Edward Westrick
California

USAF
3y9m
E5
Viet Nam Sevice, Good Conduct, Bronze Star
Mr. Charles E White
Texas

USAF
12y2m
E6
(not listed)
Mr. Richard Wilson
Ohio
USRA
2yrs
E4
(not listed)
anonymous
California

USAF
1y9m
E3
Expert marksmanship, M60 specialist

spacer
In the news:
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
09 Jan 2008
Family under fire
spacer
spacer
02 Jan 2008
Veterans and PTSD
spacer
spacer
16 Dec 2007
Author chronicled history of gays in military

[Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men & Women in World War II.]
Obit. 11 Dec 2007
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
14 Nov 2007
'Don't ask, don't tell' is only hurting military

[9th Circuit Appeal: re: MAJ Margaret Witt]
spacer
About the website / contact the webmaster.
All content ©1990-2005.American Veterans for Equal Rights, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.