US Marine veteran details serving during the 'witch hunt' of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel thanks for the most informative read and share.

Thanks for the post PO1 William "Chip" Nagel There were a couple guys I always suspected of being gay but they stayed in the closet. I think if they had come out they would have gotten the crap beat out of them and of course discharged in pretty quick order.

Another horribly headlined article. This Marine served and got out long before DADT.

I joined a couple years after DADT was signed, but I served during the majority of the time DADT was the official policy. I understand that my experience is not the same as everyone else's experience. I also understand that as a straight guy, it is entirely possible that I just didn't recognize or see some of the things that were happening. I am in no way, shape, or form, attempting to discount anyone else's experience.

But from where I sat, I saw exactly zero witch hunts. Homosexuality, in my experience, was referenced more as a "get out of Army free" card (either as a joke or a threat from a disgruntled private) than it was referenced as something which needed to be hidden away in fear. I knew more than a couple homosexual Soldiers whose orientation was an open secret.

DADT was not a perfect solution. I have heard many people say that it was "the best Clinton could do at the time" and I don't think that I particularly disagree. I do believe that moving beyond DADT to the current acceptance of openly homosexual Soldiers was a positive step. But I also think that DADT was a TREMENDOUS step forward, and we would not be HERE, if Clinton had not first gone THERE. So... the "witch hunt of DADT?" Not in the Army I served in. Nor in the Marine Corps the author served in, since she was before DADT.