Secret Service: Untold Stories of Lesbians in the Military

Secret Service presents thirteen oral histories from lesbian and bisexual women who served in the U.S. military from World War II through the 1990s. These firsthand accounts document their experiences serving under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and earlier policies that banned LGBTQ+ individuals from military service. The veterans featured in the book served across different branches of the military and held various ranks and positions. Their stories reveal the day-to-day reality of maintaining secrecy about their identity while performing their duties and building careers in the armed forces. Through interviews and personal narratives, the book chronicles both the professional achievements and personal challenges these servicewomen faced. The text includes historical context about military policies and social attitudes during each era represented. These collected narratives contribute to the broader historical record of LGBTQ+ military service and highlight themes of resilience, integrity, and the complex relationship between personal identity and patriotic duty.

Readers describe this as a straightforward collection of first-hand accounts from lesbian service members who served before and during "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The interviews cover experiences from World War II through the 1990s. Readers appreciated: - Detailed personal stories showing day-to-day life - Mix of perspectives from different military branches and time periods - Clear explanation of policies and regulations - Focus on both officers and enlisted personnel Common criticisms: - Some interviews feel repetitive - Limited exploration of intersectionality with race - Dated content (published 1996) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "These women's stories needed to be told and preserved." Another mentioned: "The format gets monotonous but the history is important." Limited review data exists online for this title, possibly due to its age and niche subject matter.

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🎖️ The book compiles oral histories from lesbian service members spanning World War II through the 1990s, documenting their experiences before, during, and after "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" 📚 Author Zsa Zsa Gershick served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1978-1983, drawing from personal experience in addition to collecting others' stories 🏅 Several women featured in the book served during World War II in the Women's Army Corps (WAC), where some estimate that up to 30% of members were lesbian or bisexual ✉️ The book reveals how lesbian service members developed coded language and secret networks to communicate with each other while avoiding detection 🌟 In 1993, when the book was published, it was one of the first works to openly discuss lesbian military service during an era when the topic was highly controversial and rarely addressed in mainstream media