by Franklin D. Jones and Ronald J. Koshes

About the authors: Franklin D. Jones and Ronald J. Koshes are psychiatrists in the Washington, D.C., area.

During World War II some 5,500 persons were admitted to hospitals with a diagnosis of “pathologic sexuality,” primarily homosexuality. It has been estimated that the number of homosexual service members serving in World War II may have been 5–10 times this number. Such discovered homosexual service members were court martialed (for offenses) or given “blue” discharges (without honor). A War Department directive issued in January 1944 allowed the issuing of blue discharges in lieu of courts martial to offenders not deemed “reclaimable” and encouraged psychiatric rehabilitation of other service members. Among this latter category of service members were individuals...