Margarethe Cammermeyer
Colonel, U.S. Army National Guard (Retired)
Born in Oslo, Norway, during Nazi occupation in 1942, I immigrated with my family to America when I was 9 years old. While I was studying nursing at the University of Maryland, I heard about the Army Student Nurse Program and jointed the military at 19. After graduation in 1963, I went to basic training as a second lieutenant at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Later, I married a fellow soldier. During the 14 months I was in Vietnam, I was head nurse of a medical intensive care unit for six months and neurosurgical intensive care unit for eight months.
After I returned to the United States, I was forced to leave the military in 1968 because I was pregnant. Women could not have dependents and be in the military. When the policy changed in 1972, I returned to the military Army Reserves.
I divorced after having four wonderful sons and a 15-year marriage. There were problems in my marriage that I did not understand at the time but which turned to be about my own identity crisis as I came to understand that I was a lesbian. The process of a personal journey of self-discovery was difficult and painful, but necessary to find the real me.
In 1988, as Col. Cammermeyer, I accepted the position of chief nurse of the Washington State National Guard. In 1989, during an interview for top-secret clearance to apply to the War College, I told the military I was a lesbian. Two years later, after a long struggle to prevent being discharged, with public and political support, I was separated from the military despite an exemplary military and civilian professional record.
On that same day, June 11 1992, my attorneys filed suit on my behalf in the federal district court in Seattle, challenging the existing ban on homosexuals in the military and requesting my reinstatement. The court eventually ruled that the policy was unconstitutional and based on prejudice. I was reinstated in the National Guard in June of 1994. Three years later, in March of 1997, I retired with full military benefits after 31 years of service to America. Of all the awards I received, I am most proud of the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, which I received for service in Vietnam.
Prior to winning the lawsuit, I wrote my autobiography , Serving in Silence (written with Chris Fisher). After winning the lawsuit and the enactment of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, the movie version of the military case was aired. Serving in Silence featured Glenn Close and won three Emmy Awards.
Other opportunities have arisen over the past few years. In 1998, I ran for Congress but lost to the incumbent, 45 percent to 55 percent. I hosted my own internet radio show for two years, which provided a wonderful opportunity to talk about politics and social issues so relevant to the discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
I continue to be involved in politics and am currently laying the framework for two new books. Visit my website and become involved at www.cammermeyer.com.