Something About Blue Discharges, Jackson Advocate (Article, 1947)
Full Text
SOMETHING ABOUT BLUE DISCHARGES
We have been asked many times since the end of the war for some information on the subject of Blue Discharges and generally by veterans who professed bewilderment at the treatment they had gotten at the hand of the Veterans Administration and other [agencies]. In most cases these veterans could remember no offense while in service to warrant such treatment.
Not having been able to give any substantial information here-to-fore we are glad to pass on, for what it may be worth, the following bit of information taken from the VETERAN'S WHIRL, written by Jimmie Hicks, Washington Correspondent of the News Bureau of the Negro Newspaper Publishers Association, which follows:
Don't push, gentlemen; the line forms over there to the right.
Blue Discharges
While we are on the subject of conduct (or misconduct) here is a line on those blue discharges.
Don't let anyone tell you that because you have a blue discharge you are not entitled to benefits under the GI Bill of Rights. In most cases, if you take your case up with the Veterans Administration you will come out with the same rights that the Joes with the honorable discharges have.
The House Veterans Affairs Committee takes the view that in framing Public Law 346 (GI Bill) "it was the view of Congress that benefits should not be denied a veteran, who, because of some minor offense, was given a discharge other than honorable but that benefits should not be extended to a person who, although not dishonorably discharged, nevertheless was separated from the service under dishonorable conditions because of his conduct while a member of the military or naval forces."
Commenting further the committee says that "Where service was otherwise honest, faithful, and meritorious, a discharge of separation other than dishonorable because of thee commission of a minor offense will not be deemed to constitute discharge or separation under a dishonorable condition."
In other words, Joe, if you were given a blue discharge without being charged with mutiny, spying, moral turpitude or alienage during hostilities you still have a good chance of getting your GI benefits.
Oh Doris!!!
Tucking its tongue in cheek the House Committee took a shy glance at the thousands of homosexuals who found their way into the Army and Navy and who were ushered out with blue discharges.
Of them the committee said "Generally, an undesirable, or blue discharge issued because of homosexual acts or tendencies is a bar to benefits (under the GI Bill) but the facts in a particular case may warrant a different conclusion."
The committee said such discharges may be reviewed by the War or Navy Department and the nature of the discharge changed so as to make the veteran eligible for benefits if the case warrants.
