An investigation of the situation of lesbians & gays in the military over the past three decades, revealing for the first time that some of the most celebrated soldiers in American history were homosexual. Five years of interviews with nearly 1,100 gay service people have uncovered stories of heroism, persecution, & increasing resistance while documenting the creation of a vast gay subculture within the armed forces. With thousand of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, Shilts offers the first in-depth look at the fierce purges of gays in the military over the past 30 years. Best seller!