Phelps’ record is easily checked; you can confirm her units and places served. You can submit an SF-180 to the National Personnel Records Center, St Louis, MO (form available through the NARA web site). For basic background information on Phelps look at the NARA electronic serial number file, search for Phelps#Nell#L (ASN #A-410913). Ask specifically for information on all assignments, to include overseas assignments.

Phelps was never assigned to a place/unit/headquarters (etc.) where Gen Eisenhower was present — she never worked for him and it is unlikely that she ever had occasion to meet him in any context.

She was a Wac corporal, never made it to sergeant. There is no problem with her service or with her rank — she served honorably, and was discharged honorably in the spring, 1948. It’s what she did afterwards that casts doubt.

For the most complete (and egregious) version of her story told by Phelps herself see the account of her life as recorded by Mary Ann Humphrey in _My Country, My Right to Serve_.

Her story appears in Randy Shilts generally well researched book, _Conduct Unbecoming_. However, by the time her story was added Shilts was either very seriously ill or had already died. His usual careful research did not take place regarding Phelps.

Alan Berube quotes her only briefly. I’d like to know why he didn’t include the whole story as so many other did. Did he suspect it wasn’t true? Guess we’ll never know.

This is a story that won’t die…

On a point of information, however, I don’t recall her mentioning at any stage in the documentary that this incident took place in Germany.

Following the end of the war, six months into her second enlistment, in fall of 1946, Phelps was briefly assigned to duty in Frankfurt, GE. For whatever reason it did not work out and she was returned to the USA early in 1947 for medical treatment, which continued for over six months until the fall of 1947. She returned to duty in the US.

Gen Eisenhower, on the other hand, left Germany in the fall 1945 to become the US Army chief of staff. He had been gone from duty in Germany for a full year before Corporal Phelps arrived on the scene for her brief three or four month assignment. The two were never in the same place for an Army assignment at the same time. Her story is completely untrue.

Her story can be easily check throug an inquiry to the records repository in St Louis, MO.

It seems that once a story is repeated in writing it becomes fact. For whatever reason Ms. Phelps vivid imagination went far beyond the facts. She served hororably, in two enlistments, leaving the service as a corporal. Her honorable service is commendable. The rest of her story is not.

ITA that gay history is incredibly interesting. I love “And the Band Played On” which is more a history of HIV/AIDS, and the history of HIV/AIDS visibility and activism is all about the gays. And “Milk” was so inspiring. Is there anything else out there?

(I just decided to rewatch “Milk” tonight. awesome)

We have a rich history and should be proud of it. If only people bothered to tell us.

So thanks Clicks