Selden G. Hooper

Selden G. Hooper (25 December 1904 – 7 February 1976) was the only admiral of the United States Navy to be convicted by court-martial, for homosexual acts carried out post-service. After quickly making lieutenant, he married a daughter of a wealthy paper manufacturer, Kathryn Rising. Just four years later, the United States would enter as a belligerent to World War 2, Hooper was made the commander of the Fletcher class destroyer, the USS Uhlmann. During service, Hooper was credited with having adverted a crippling attack on American Amphibious Ships. After several subsequent return trips to surveil Hooper's residence, the officers discovered another enlisted sailor, John Schmidt, and witnessed the three together, before Hooper and Schmidt undressed and then proceeded to turn the lights out; leaving the officers with strong evidence of homosexual conduct.

In April, the following year, retired Admiral Hooper was officially notified that the commandant of the Eleventh Naval District, Rear Admiral Charles Hartman, has filed charges against him related to the Uniform Code of Military Justice:

Article 125 - sodomy; Article 134 - conduct of a nature to bring discredit on the armed forces; Article 135 - conduct unbecoming to an officer and a gentleman.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution (The Navy) enlisted a slew of character witnesses. A significant number were other sailors, including Roscoe Braddock, who, under oath, was forced to admit to sharing a bed with Hooper, thereby corroborating claims of homosexual conduct. The defense for Hooper called upon their own character witnesses, that all testified that Hooper was an upstanding citizen, with a distinguished military record. They also called upon a psychiatrist from San Diego County Hospital, who testified that Hooper was not a homosexual. Despite this, the panel returned a unanimous verdict against Hooper.