Air Forces grants honorable discharge to 91-year-old gay vet

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A 91-year-old veteran who was dismissed from the U.S. Air Force as "undesirable" in 1948 because he is gay has had that discharge status changed to "honorable."

The move by the Air Force comes in response to a lawsuit filed in November by H. Edward Spires of Norwalk, Connecticut, who served from 1946 to 1948 as a chaplain's assistant, earning the rank of sergeant.

Spires was forced out of the military in 1948 after an investigation into his sexual orientation.

Spires' attorneys said he was originally denied the discharge upgrade after the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in 2010 because the Air Force said his records had likely been lost in a 1973 fire.

The Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records informed Spires on Friday that the honorable discharge had been approved by the Air Force Review Boards Agency.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/air-forces-grants-honorable-discharge-to-91-year-old-gay-vet/ar-BBy5EQM?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=edgsp

[shenmue]

1. Yes

[The Polack MSgt]

2. About effing time

Glad you lived to see justice Sergeant.

Aim High

[Sherman A1]

3. Good to hear

I recall the fire in 1973 at the Personnel Records Center. It was something spectacular and went on for days, I could see the glow from my then girlfriend's house when visiting her. The records have since been moved to a new facility and the staff is still working on reassembling what they can of them.

[sheshe2]

4. So long overdue.

Sargent Spires. I am glad you were here to see the day.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Soak 'em up.

These type of stories are soon to disappear into the ether. They are to be replaced with "Gays discharged en masse as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is re-issued in a new form."