Serving with Honor

About the Book

I wanted to change my life so I joined the military during a time when gays were not welcomed. While joining the military brought me out of a challenging situation, it was the beginning of a difficult journey. A journey I was able to navigate, but so many others were not so fortunate.
Serving with Honor: Under a Cloak of Silence depicts the life of Dr. Lorenzo McFarland, along with three close friends, who served before and during the time of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT). This book answers that most interesting question of what it was like for gays in the military under DADT. In our own words we bare our souls and answer some of the tough questions not asked or answered before now. Questions like: Why join in the fi rst place? What was basic training like? How did we protect our careers? Would we serve again?
We talk about exhaustive efforts creating elaborate webs to protect our secret. This book also depicts our patriotism and commitment to the military mission and this great country. Despite DADT, we served with honor and found great success.

About the Author

LORENZO L. MCFARLAND, DHA, MSW, PMP, is a veteran with twenty years of service. He retired at the rank of master sergeant, having served as an aerospace medicine technician and public health craftsman. Dr. McFarland was stationed at Zaragoza AB, Spain; Aviano AB, Italy; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and Brooks AFB, Texas. His awards include the Air Force Achievement Medal (three oak leaf clusters); the Air Force Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters); the NATO Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal; and the Air Force Outstanding Unit (two silver leaf clusters). Contributors KENNETH N. BROOKS, MBA, is a twenty-one-year Air Force veteran serving as a weather technician. His assignments have included Aviano, Italy (two tours); Incirlik, Turkey (two tours); Sembach AB, Germany; Abilene, Texas; Fort Polk, Louisiana; and Omaha, Nebraska. His awards include the Air Force Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster); Air Force Commendation Medals; the Army Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters); and the Meritorious Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster). BRIAN E. MARKOWSKI is an eight-year Air Force veteran serving as an aerospace ground equipment technician and telecommunications tech controller. His assignments have included Ramstein AB, Germany; Hurlburt Field, Florida; and Scott AFB, Illinois. His awards include Air Force Outstanding Unit Medals (two oak leaf clusters); the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (two oak leaf clusters); the Air Force Achievement Medal; the Combat Readiness Medal; and Air Force Airman of the Quarter (three times). T. DAVID GILMER is a navy veteran with twenty years of service. His assignments have included Long Beach and San Diego, California; Louisville, Kentucky; Norfolk, Virginia; Naples, Italy; and Washington DC. His awards include a Combat Action Ribbon; the Joint Commendation Medal; the Joint Achievement Medal; the Navy Commendation Medal (silver oak leaf cluster); and the Navy Achievement Medal (four oak leaf clusters).