Killing of Allen R. Schindler Jr.

Allen R. Schindler Jr. (December 13, 1969 – October 27, 1992) was an American
Allen R. Schindler Jr .
Radioman Petty Officer Third Class in the United States Navy who was murdered
for being gay. He was killed in a public toilet in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan, by Terry
M. Helvey, who acted with the aid of an accomplice, Charles Vins, in what Esquire
called a "brutal murder".[1][2] The case became synonymous with the debate
concerning LGB members of the military that had been brewing in the United States
culminating in the "Don't ask, don't tell" bill.[2]

The events surrounding Schindler's murder were the subject of ABC's 20/20 episode
and were portrayed in the 1997 TV film Any Mother's Son.[3] In 1998, Any Mother's
Son won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Made for TV Movie.[4]

Contents
Background
Murder
Details revealed
Trial and outcomes Allen R. Schindler Jr.
Cultural references Born December 13, 1969
See also Chicago Heights,
References Illinois
External links Died October 27, 1992
(aged 22)
Sasebo, Nagasaki,
Background Japan
Allegiance United States
Schindler was from a naval family[2] in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and was serving
as a radioman on the amphibious assault ship USS Belleau Wood in Sasebo, Service/ United States
Nagasaki. branch Navy
Rank E4 Radioman 3rd
According to several of his friends, Schindler had complained repeatedly of anti-gay
Class
harassment to his chain of command in March and April 1992, citing incidents such
as the gluing-shut of his locker and frequent comments from shipmates such as
"There's a faggot on this ship and he should die".[5] Schindler had begun the separation process to leave the Navy, but his superiors
insisted he remain on his ship until the process was finished. Though he knew his safety was at risk, Schindler obeyed orders.

While on transport from San Diego, California, to Sasebo, the USS Belleau Wood made a brief stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Afterward, en route to Japan, Schindler made a personal prank announcement "2-Q-T-2-B-S-T-R-8” (too cute to be straight) on
secure lines reaching much of the Pacific Fleet. When he appeared at captain's mast for the unauthorized radio message, he requested
that the hearing be closed. It was open, with two hundred to three hundred people in attendance.[1] Schindler was put on restrictive
leave and was unable to leave the ship until a few weeks after arriving atSasebo and four days before his death.

Murder
Airman Apprentice Terry M. Helvey, who was a member of the ship's weather department (OA Division, Operations Department),
stomped Schindler to death in a toilet in a park in Sasebo, Nagasaki. A key witness, Jonathan W., saw Helvey jump on Schindler's
body while singing, and blood was gushing from Schindler's mouth as he attempted to breathe. Schindler was left lying on the
bathroom floor until the Shore Patrol and the key witness to the incident carried out Schindler's body to the nearby Albuquerque
Bridge.[2] Schindler had "at least four fatal injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen," his head was crushed, ribs broken, and his penis
cut, and he had "sneaker-tread marks stamped on his forehead and chest", destroying "every organ in his body",[6] leaving behind a
"nearly unrecognizable corpse."[7] The key witness was requested to explain in detail to the military court what the crime scene
looked like, but would not because Schindler's mother and sister were present in the courtroom. His family was only able to identify
him by the tattoo on his arm.[8]

Details revealed
The Navy was less than forthcoming about the details of the killing, both to the news media and to the victim's family, especially his
mother, Dorothy Hajdys.[9] Navy Officials failed to include his belongings: the log book Allen kept of his time on board, and his
record of harassment he was receiving on the advice of friends.

In the wake of Schindler's murder, the Navy denied that it had received any complaints of harassment and refused to speak publicly
.[5]
about the case or to release the Japanese police report on the murder

The medical examiner compared Schindler's injuries to those sustained by a victim of a fatal horse trampling saying they were worse
"than the damage to a person who'd been stomped by a horse; they were similar to what might be sustained in a high-speed car crash
or a low-speed aircraft accident."[2]

At the wake in the family's home in Chicago, his mother and sister could only identify him by the tattoos on his arm as his face was
disfigured.[2]

Trial and outcomes

During the trial Helvey denied that he killed Schindler because he was gay, stating, "I did not attack him because he was
homosexual", but evidence presented by Navy investigator Kennon F. Privette, from the interrogation of Helvey the day after the
murder, showed otherwise. "He said he hated homosexuals. He was disgusted by them," Privette said. On killing Schindler, Privette
[1]
quoted Helvey as saying: "I don't regret it. I'd do it again. ... He deserved it."

Under a court-approved bargain in exchange for his pleading guilty to "inflicting great bodily harm", the maximum penalty is lifetime
imprisonment. Under the original charge, it was death.[1]

After the trial, Helvey was convicted of murder and Douglas J. Bradt, the captain who kept the incident quiet, was transferred to
shore duty in Florida. Helvey is serving a life sentence. By statute, Helvey is granted a clemency hearing every year. Initially, he was
imprisoned in the United States Disciplinary Barracks. As of 2015, he is housed at FCI Greenville in Illinois under the inmate
number 13867-045.[10] Helvey's accomplice, Charles Vins, was allowed to plea bargain as guilty to three lesser offenses, including
failure to report a serious crime and to testify truthfully against Helvey, and served a 78-day sentence before receiving a general
discharge from the Navy.

Cultural references
The events surrounding Schindler's murder were the subject of a 20/20 episode and were portrayed in the 1997 TV film Any Mother's
Son.[11] In 1998, Any Mother's Son won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Made for TV Movie.[12]

See also
Barry Winchell
Judge Advocate General's Corps
 Military law

References
1. Jameson, Sam (May 28, 1994),"U.S. Sailor Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Murder"(http://tech.mit.edu/V113/N2
8/sailor.28w.txt.html), Los Angeles Times, retrieved March 21, 2008
2. Brown, Chip (December 1993),"The Accidental Martyr"(http://www.chipbrown.net/articles/martyr.htm), Esquire,
archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20080327121745/http://www
.chipbrown.net/articles/martyr.htm) from the
original on March 27, 2008, retrieved March 21, 2008
3. "Any Mother's Son – About the Movie"(https://web.archive.org/web/20080126022232/http://www .mylifetime.com/on-t
v/movies/any-mothers-son). Lifetime Television. Archived from the original (http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/a
ny-mothers-son) on January 26, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
4. "GLAAD Awards Part I in NYC" (http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?1998/03/31/5). PlanetOut Inc. March
31, 1998. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20020201231248/http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?199
8%2F03%2F31%2F5) from the original on February 1, 2002. Retrieved February 12, 2002.
5. "Uniform Discrimination: The "Don't Ask, Don't e
Tll" Policy of the U.S. Military, section V. Discharges of Gay And
lesbian Servicemembers"(http://hrw.org/reports/2003/usa0103/USA0103FINAL-04.htm#P360_70035), Human
Rights Watch, January 2003, retrieved March 21, 2008
6. " 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' – intolerable or intolerant?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080611184255/http://www
.gaylesb
iantimes.com/?id=9808&issue=1013), Gay & Lesbian Times, Editorial (1013), May 24, 2007, archived fromthe
original (http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=9808&issue=1013) on June 11, 2008, retrieved March 21, 2008
7. Belkin, Dr. Aaron (May 1, 2005),"Abandoning 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Will Decrease Anti-Gay Violence" (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20080317085603/http://www .palmcenter.org/press/dadt/in_print/abandoning_dont_ask_dont_tell_will_
decrease_anti_gay_violence), Naval Institute: Proceedings Monthly, archived from the original (http://www.palmcent
er.org/press/dadt/in_print/abandoning_dont_ask_dont_tell_will_decrease_anti_gay_violence)on March 17, 2008,
retrieved March 21, 2008
8. Green, Jesse (September 12, 1993),"What the Navy Taught Allen Schindler's Mother" (https://www.nytimes.com/199
3/09/12/magazine/what-the-navy-taught-allen-schindler-s-mother
.html), New York Times, retrieved March 29, 2010
9. Joyner, Will (August 11, 1997),"Slain Sailor's Mother As a Profile in Courage"(https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag
e.html?res=9C03E2D9103CF932A2575BC0A961958260) , The New York Times, retrieved March 21, 2008
10. http://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/
11. "Any Mother's Son – About the Movie"(https://web.archive.org/web/20080126022232/http://www .mylifetime.com/on-t
v/movies/any-mothers-son). Lifetime Television. Archived from the original (http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/a
ny-mothers-son) on January 26, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
12. "GLAAD Awards Part I in NYC" (http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?1998/03/31/5). PlanetOut Inc. March
31, 1998. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20020201231248/http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?199
8%2F03%2F31%2F5) from the original on February 1, 2002. Retrieved February 12, 2002.

External links
Allen R. Schindler, Jr. FB Memorial Page
Memorial Hall: Allen Schindler, Jr.
Allen Schindler, Jr. news via Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Crime of Gay Hate, the murder of Allen Schindler
Any Mother's Son on IMDb
Killing of Allen R. Schindler Jr. at Find a Grave

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