Milton author J. Lee Watton to hold book signing Oct. 23 at CAMP Rehoboth

"Out of Step" by Milton author J. Lee Watton, with a foreword by Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, U.S. Army (ret.), will have its book launch party and author signing at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23, at CAMP Rehoboth.

This memoir, published by A&M Books of Rehoboth, just as Don't Ask, Don't Tell is repealed, is about a frightening 1965 military witch hunt among Navy WAVES and is available just as the U.S. military is finally lifting the ban on gay people serving openly. The story is a compelling, detailed and emotional account of what happened at a Navy training ground in 1965.

During that summer, the Office of Naval Intelligence launched a major inquiry into reports of suspected homosexuality amongst a group of young, spirited, naïve WAVES stationed at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Md.

The Navy referred to the inquest by the code name The Family. The investigation included daily interrogations and a witch hunt against the women under investigation, their friends and other WAVES whose own careers were threatened. At the time, this investigation encompassed the largest number of WAVES at the same base to be discharged simultaneously. At the conclusion of the extensive probe, while no attorneys were assigned to represent the defendants and nothing was ever proven, five WAVES were discharged. The incident had lifelong ramifications for the young women.

Now, 45 years later, journalist Jane Lee Watton, one of the discharged WAVES, tells the true story of that summer of 1965, with its forbidden desires and lessons learned the hard way, coming full circle with a 21st century reunion for the former WAVES and some surprising revelations.

Cammermeyer, who took on the military herself over Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, says “This book could not be more timely. [It’s] a tender, fragile love story about a family of young women growing up in the military, to the beat of a different drummer, and making decisions with lifelong consequences.”

The Rev. Dusty Pruitt, Milton resident and former minister at the Rehoboth Beach Metropolitan Community Church, who also fought against U.S. military dismissal, says, “In this poignant and humorous memoir, Lee Watton has captured the pride, joy, and camaraderie, along with the ultimate shame and heartache of being a lesbian recruit in the armed forces, long before the establishment of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell."

The public is invited to join publisher Fay Jacobs and author Lee Watton, along with Pruitt at the book signing, reading and celebration at CAMP Rehoboth Sunday, Oct. 23. A portion of the proceeds from the sales at the signing will go to CAMP Rehoboth.

The book is available in the area at Browseabout Books, Proud Bookstore and Atlantic Books and online at www.aandmbooks.com, www.amazon.com and more. It is available in paperback and e-book. For more information contact aandmpublishers@aol.com.