ABSTRACT
José Sarria early on recognized that he was a homosexual, and brags he screwed his way into the U.S. Army after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Turned down by the Navy and Marines because he was slightly under five feet tall and weighed only ninety pounds, he vowed to get into the Army even if he did not meet the height minimum. He believed he had found a way to do so when he became acquainted with an Army major whom he had met at several gay gatherings he had attended in San Francisco. The major had been interested in Sarria, but José had only flirted with him until he found out that the officer was assigned to the recruiting station. Knowing what he had to do, Sarria contacted the major; the two had lunch together and then went to a nearby hotel on the condition that the major would approve him for enlistment. Sarria soon found himself in the Army, where he was sent to attend classes to be a cook and baker. Eventually he ended up as an aide to a high-ranking officer and from there became the operator of an officers’ dining hall in occupied Germany. He also became an expert in dealing with the black market and throwing parties. Although therewas a lot of gossip about his possible sexual orientation, hewas accepted by most of his colleagues.
