Tender of Resignation by Harvey B. Milk
1/10/1955
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In 1952, Harvey Milk – who would go on to become one of the most important leaders of the American LGBTQ rights movement – was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. The next year he was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade).
His military career was soon to come to a close, however. In December 1954, Milk was questioned by Special Agents of the Office of Naval Intelligence for "suspected homosexual conduct."
In a signed statement the next month, Milk acknowledged that he had been sexually intimate with a number of men. He submitted this resignation from the Navy under "other than honorable conditions" recognizing that he could "expect to encounter substantial prejudice in civilian life...."
In a performance evaluation just prior to the Navy investigation, Milk had been deemed excellent and efficient.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
Full Citation: Tender of Resignation by Harvey B. Milk; 1/10/1955; Official Military Personnel File for Harvey B. Milk; Official Military Personnel Files, 1885 - 1998; Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24; National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/resignation-harvey-milk, April 26, 2024]
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