Ask the Scholar
Page 4 of 4
I can add historical knowledge about this page.
Page image
OCR
C
0
P
Y
eg. ARCHIVES A "NATIONALD TROMAN LIBRARY
11 October 1949
U.S.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
sept
THE
SECRETARY
OF
THE
NAVY
Hept
THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
Dept.
SUBJECT: Discharge of Homosexuals from the Armed Services.
The Personnel Policy Board has approved the following policy with
respect to treatment and discharge of homosexuals from the Armed Services:
1. a. Homosexual personnel, irrespective of sex, should not be
permitted to serve in any branch of the Armed Forces in any capacity,
and prompt separation of known homosexuals from the Armed Forces be made
mandatory.
b. Each branch of the Armed Forces should include information
on homosexuality in its educational program.
C. In cases involving female personnel, a female officer should
be a member of all boards.
d. A central review board for each service at Departmental
level would insure uniform action on cases of homosexuality throughout
each Department. Conferences between members of these boards would
tend to promote uniform action throughout the Armed Services. However,
it is recognized that the different Departments have administrative
problems more or less peculiar to each Service, and for this reason
the administrative details of implementing the policy outlined below
for the disposition of homosexual personnel may be at the option of
the various Departments concerned.
e. Disposition boards shall be guided by policy outlined
as follows:
(1) Homosexual personnel coming within the purview of
this policy will fall into several categories which may 02 may not
overlap, and will be more or less complicated by the facts and circumstances
peculiar to the individual case. The cases, however, are generally
classified and normal disposition presented for each class as follows:
(a) CLASS I is defined as those cases accompained
by assault or coercion as characterized by any act in or to which
the other person involved did not willingly cooperate or consent, or
C
0
P
Y
where the consent was obtained through force, fraud or actual intimidation,
thereby constituting the invasion of the rights of another, or any
homosexual action with a child under the age of consent whether the
HARRY
'NATIONAL
ARCHIVES AND
RECORDS
LIBRARY
child cooperates or not.
U.S.
SERVICE"
GOVERN WENT
(1) Disposition: Trial by general court-martial
is mandatory. Papers recommending trial shall be prepared end submitted
to the appropriate convening authority in accordance with existing
instructions.
(b) CLASS II is defined as those cases wherein
personnel have engaged in one or more homosexual acts or where evidence
supports proposal or attempt to perform an act of homosexuality, and
which do not fall in the category of CLASS I above.
(1) Disposition: Disposition will be accomplished
by administrative separation under conditions other than honorable,
unless the individual resists separation from the Service under such
conditions in which case he will be recommended for trial by court-
martial. However, nothing in this policy will preclude the bringing
of any homosexual to trial before a court-martial if superior authority
considers the circumstances to render such action essential in the
interest of the military establishment.
(2) It is emphasized that no distinction is made
in the administrative handling of cases of alleged participation in
homosexual acts while a member of the United States Armed Forces, based
upon whether or not the role of a person in any particular action was
active or passive.
(c) CLASS III is defined as those rare cases wherein
personnel only exhibit, profess or admit homosexual tendencies and
wherein there are no specific provable acts or offenses, or court-
martial jurisdiction does not exist.
(1) Disposition: Administrative separation will
be accomplished, and type of discharge to be given will take into con-
sideration all attendant facts and circumstances.
(2) All persons who confess homosexual tendencies
shall not necessarily be discharged merely on the basis of confession
of homosexuality. It is essential to distinguish between those who
have uncontrollable perverse tendencies in fact and those who claim
such for the purpose of avoiding military service. Evidence of an
existing psychological or other maladjustment resulting from such
tendencies, or other circumstances, which render the individual in-
adaptable for military service, will be carefully evaluated by each
Board concerned in making a decision.
C
0
P
-2-
Y
C
0
HARRY by. NATIONAL TRUMAN LIBRARY
P
Y
U.S.
(2) The character of separation normally to be effected
for all classes of homosexuality arising among service personnel
shall be similar and without distinction as to sex (male or female),
or status (officer or enlisted), in all components of the Armed
Forces.
It is requested that this policy be placed in effect as soon
as practicable. Present policies, procedures and practices should
be reviewed in the light of this policy, and a report submitted to
the Chairman, Personnel Policy Board, not later than 7 December 1949.
/s/ HUBERT E. HOWARD
Chairman
C
-3-
0
P
Page data
- Page
- 4
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- document
- Media ID
- 363b9487428de8a2
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 54538181
- Core
- doc
- Type
- document
DTO data
{
"id": "54538181",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54538181",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Memorandum from Hubert E. Howard to the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54538181",
"collections": [
"Confidential Files (Truman Administration)",
"Confidential Subject Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/81/5381/54538181/content/presidential-libraries/truman/598863/1066164-01-01.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/81/5381/54538181/content/presidential-libraries/truman/598863/1066164-01-01.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/81/5381/54538181/content/presidential-libraries/truman/598863/1066164-01-01.jpg",
"imageCount": 4,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "54538181",
"label": "Memorandum from Hubert E. Howard to the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force",
"core": "doc",
"dtoType": "document",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54538181"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "54538181",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54538181",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Memorandum from Hubert E. Howard to the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54538181",
"collections": [
"Confidential Files (Truman Administration)",
"Confidential Subject Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/81/5381/54538181/content/presidential-libraries/truman/598863/1066164-01-01.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/81/5381/54538181/content/presidential-libraries/truman/598863/1066164-01-01.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/81/5381/54538181/content/presidential-libraries/truman/598863/1066164-01-01.jpg",
"imageCount": 4,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras
{
"url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54538181",
"naId": 54538181,
"levelOfDescription": "item",
"productionDates": [
{
"day": 11,
"logicalDate": "1949-10-11",
"month": 10,
"year": 1949
}
],
"recordType": "description",
"ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context
{
"seq": 4,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "document",
"url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/81/5381/54538181/content/presidential-libraries/truman/598863/1066164-01.pdf",
"mediaId": "363b9487428de8a2",
"ocrText": "C\n0\nP\nY\neg. ARCHIVES A \"NATIONALD TROMAN LIBRARY\n11 October 1949\nU.S.\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY\nsept\nTHE\nSECRETARY\nOF\nTHE\nNAVY\nHept\nTHE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE\nDept.\nSUBJECT: Discharge of Homosexuals from the Armed Services.\nThe Personnel Policy Board has approved the following policy with\nrespect to treatment and discharge of homosexuals from the Armed Services:\n1. a. Homosexual personnel, irrespective of sex, should not be\npermitted to serve in any branch of the Armed Forces in any capacity,\nand prompt separation of known homosexuals from the Armed Forces be made\nmandatory.\nb. Each branch of the Armed Forces should include information\non homosexuality in its educational program.\nC. In cases involving female personnel, a female officer should\nbe a member of all boards.\nd. A central review board for each service at Departmental\nlevel would insure uniform action on cases of homosexuality throughout\neach Department. Conferences between members of these boards would\ntend to promote uniform action throughout the Armed Services. However,\nit is recognized that the different Departments have administrative\nproblems more or less peculiar to each Service, and for this reason\nthe administrative details of implementing the policy outlined below\nfor the disposition of homosexual personnel may be at the option of\nthe various Departments concerned.\ne. Disposition boards shall be guided by policy outlined\nas follows:\n(1) Homosexual personnel coming within the purview of\nthis policy will fall into several categories which may 02 may not\noverlap, and will be more or less complicated by the facts and circumstances\npeculiar to the individual case. The cases, however, are generally\nclassified and normal disposition presented for each class as follows:\n(a) CLASS I is defined as those cases accompained\nby assault or coercion as characterized by any act in or to which\nthe other person involved did not willingly cooperate or consent, or\nC\n0\nP\nY\nwhere the consent was obtained through force, fraud or actual intimidation,\nthereby constituting the invasion of the rights of another, or any\nhomosexual action with a child under the age of consent whether the\nHARRY\n'NATIONAL\nARCHIVES AND\nRECORDS\nLIBRARY\nchild cooperates or not.\nU.S.\nSERVICE\"\nGOVERN WENT\n(1) Disposition: Trial by general court-martial\nis mandatory. Papers recommending trial shall be prepared end submitted\nto the appropriate convening authority in accordance with existing\ninstructions.\n(b) CLASS II is defined as those cases wherein\npersonnel have engaged in one or more homosexual acts or where evidence\nsupports proposal or attempt to perform an act of homosexuality, and\nwhich do not fall in the category of CLASS I above.\n(1) Disposition: Disposition will be accomplished\nby administrative separation under conditions other than honorable,\nunless the individual resists separation from the Service under such\nconditions in which case he will be recommended for trial by court-\nmartial. However, nothing in this policy will preclude the bringing\nof any homosexual to trial before a court-martial if superior authority\nconsiders the circumstances to render such action essential in the\ninterest of the military establishment.\n(2) It is emphasized that no distinction is made\nin the administrative handling of cases of alleged participation in\nhomosexual acts while a member of the United States Armed Forces, based\nupon whether or not the role of a person in any particular action was\nactive or passive.\n(c) CLASS III is defined as those rare cases wherein\npersonnel only exhibit, profess or admit homosexual tendencies and\nwherein there are no specific provable acts or offenses, or court-\nmartial jurisdiction does not exist.\n(1) Disposition: Administrative separation will\nbe accomplished, and type of discharge to be given will take into con-\nsideration all attendant facts and circumstances.\n(2) All persons who confess homosexual tendencies\nshall not necessarily be discharged merely on the basis of confession\nof homosexuality. It is essential to distinguish between those who\nhave uncontrollable perverse tendencies in fact and those who claim\nsuch for the purpose of avoiding military service. Evidence of an\nexisting psychological or other maladjustment resulting from such\ntendencies, or other circumstances, which render the individual in-\nadaptable for military service, will be carefully evaluated by each\nBoard concerned in making a decision.\nC\n0\nP\n-2-\nY\nC\n0\nHARRY by. NATIONAL TRUMAN LIBRARY\nP\nY\nU.S.\n(2) The character of separation normally to be effected\nfor all classes of homosexuality arising among service personnel\nshall be similar and without distinction as to sex (male or female),\nor status (officer or enlisted), in all components of the Armed\nForces.\nIt is requested that this policy be placed in effect as soon\nas practicable. Present policies, procedures and practices should\nbe reviewed in the light of this policy, and a report submitted to\nthe Chairman, Personnel Policy Board, not later than 7 December 1949.\n/s/ HUBERT E. HOWARD\nChairman\nC\n-3-\n0\nP"
}