{"id":107301,"date":"2016-04-01T13:08:43","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T13:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/"},"modified":"2018-09-02T19:54:21","modified_gmt":"2018-09-02T19:54:21","slug":"thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-107301 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107302\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo1_400-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo1_400-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo1_400-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107303\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo4_400-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo4_400-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo4_400-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107304\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo3_400-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo3_400-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo3_400-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107305\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo7_640-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo7_640-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo7_640-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107306\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo5_400-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo5_400-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo5_400-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107307\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo6_500-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo6_500-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo6_500-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107308\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo8_400-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo8_400-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo8_400-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107309\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo10_640-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo10_640-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo10_640-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107310\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo2_400-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo2_400-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo2_400-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/attachment\/107311\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo9_500-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo9_500-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/tumblr_nqu4aaBseq1uv7ybuo9_500-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><a class=\"tumblr_blog\" href=\"http:\/\/thegayreich.tumblr.com\/post\/122986480265\" target=\"_blank\">thegayreich<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><b>WWII Gay G.I.s recounts tale of losing their Lovers<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Excerpt from the book Coming out under fire The history of gay Men and Women in World War Two: <\/b>Combat soldiers<b>\u00a0<\/b>often<b>\u00a0<\/b>responded to each other\u2019s personal losses with the deepest respect and understanding, allowing gay GIs to express openly their grief over the death of boyfriends or lovers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Jim Warren\u2019s boyfriend was hit while trying to knock out a machine-gun nest on Saipan.\u00a0\u201cThey brought him back,\u201d Warren recalled,\u00a0\u201cand he was at the point of death. He was bleeding. He had been hit about three or four times. I stood there and he looked up at me and I looked down at him and he said, \u2018Well, Jim, we didn\u2019t make it, did we.\u2019 And tears were just rolling down my cheeks. I don\u2019t know when I\u2019ve ever felt such a lump and such a waste. And he kind of gave me a boyish crooked grin and just said,\u00a0\u2018Well, maybe next time.\u2019 And I said,\u00a0\u2018I\u2019m going to miss you. And I\u2019ll see your mother.\u2019 There were people standing around, maybe seven or eight people standing there, and I was there touching his hand and we were talking. Somebody said later,\u00a0\u2018You were pretty good friends,\u2019 because I had been openly crying and most people don\u2019t do this. I said,\u00a0\u2018Yes, we were quite good friends.\u2019 And nobody ever said anything. I guess as long as I supposedly upheld my end of the bargain, everything was all right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ben Small was even less able to control himself when his boyfriend was killed in the Philippines. But he, too, was surprised by the other men\u2019s compassion towards him.\u00a0\u201cWe had a funny freak attack of a Japanese kamikaze plane,\u201d he recalled,\u00a0\u201cand I guess he was getting rid of his last load of these baby cutter bomb, these little bombs that explode at about three feet high so if they went off through a tent they exploded at bed level. I had just been in the tent of a guy I had been going with at the time. He crawled into bed, and I said goodnight and walked out the tent. And this plane came overhead and all we heard was explosions and we fell to the ground. When I got up too see if he was all right, the trust of the bomb had gone through his tent and he was not there. I went into a three-day period of hysterics. I was treated with such kindness by the guys that I worked with, who were all totally aware of why I had gone hysterical. It wasn\u2019t because we were bombed. It was because my boyfriend had been killed. And one guy in the tent came up to me and said,\u00a0\u2018Why didn\u2019t you tell me you were gay? You could have talked to me.\u2019 I said,\u00a0\u2018Well, I was afraid to.\u2019 This big straight, macho guy. There was a sort of compassion then.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After a raid in the Philippines, Ben Small remembered, a lieutenant who had been injured was being shipped back to the States, so the men\u00a0\u201call went to the plane to see him off that night. It was an amazingly touching moment, when he and his lover said goodbye, because they embraced and kissed in front of all these straight guys and everyone dealt with it so well. I think it was just this basic thing about separation of someone you cared for, regardless of sex.\u201d Small described this tender parting as\u00a0\u201ca little distilled moment out of time\u201d when men\u2019s\u00a0\u201cprejudices were suspended\u201d and gay soldiers\u00a0\u201ccould be a part of what this meant.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>thegayreich: WWII Gay G.I.s recounts tale of losing their Lovers Excerpt from the book Coming out under fire The history of gay Men and Women in World War Two: Combat soldiers\u00a0often\u00a0responded to each other\u2019s personal losses with the deepest respect and understanding, allowing gay GIs to express openly their grief over the death of boyfriends &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/04\/01\/thegayreich-wwii-gay-gis-recounts-tale-of\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[1318,261,3347,4,3014],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107301"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107301"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107312,"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107301\/revisions\/107312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}