Gay Chicago Man Booted From Military Reflects On 'Don't Ask' Policy
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is scheduled to officially end tomorrow--and for at least one gay man who's been in frequent touch with a Navy recruiter in Chicago, it's hard to believe the end is almost here.
WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports, it was nine years ago when Lee Reinhart was kicked out of the military under the policy.
And he's been working with a Chicago recruiter to go back in.
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"I haven't been able to get to that next step for about a year, you know?," Reinhart said. "There's been a couple of times when I got really close, and then it got pulled away."
And now?
"Being 38 years old, I might be going up against someone who's 20, 21, 22, that wants to get in. So that makes it somewhat even harder."
And Reinhart says with the door opening again, he's worried his hearing may keep him out.
"But it would truly mean a lot to me to be able to put my uniform back on and serve my country again."
