"I really wanted to be a soldier, I was proud to be a soldier, but I couldn’t live with a lie." (Audio interview, 43:26).

Clifton Francis Arnesen, Jr.

Clifton Arnesen in uniform War: Cold War Branch: Army Unit: Company N, 1st Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Brigade Service Location: Fort Dix, New Jersey Rank: Private

Clifton Francis Arnesen was 17 years old when he enlisted in the Army in 1965 to escape an abusive father. Moving through basic and advanced infantry training, he found that the military life provided a sense of discipline and self-esteem--but it also required him to live a lie. When he found himself under investigation, he admitted he was gay, only to be accused of lying in order to avoid service in Vietnam. Dishonorably discharged in January 1967, he went on to become an activist for LGBT veterans, eventually becoming president of the New England Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans in 1988. In 1989, he testified in front of Congress about his experiences as a bisexual veteran.