1992 united states navy radioman allen r. schindler jr
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1992 34 years ago Historical Events October 27 2 sources

United States Navy radioman Allen R. Schindler, Jr. is murdered by shipmate Terry M. Helvey for being gay, precipitating debate about gays in the military that results in the United States' "Don't ask, don't tell" military policy.

On October 27, in the year 1992, United States Navy radioman Allen R. Schindler, Jr. is murdered by shipmate Terry M. Helvey for being gay, precipitating debate about gays in the military that results in the United States' "Don't ask, don't tell" military policy. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of October 27, one of 441 recorded events on this date across all of history.

Allen R. Schindler Jr. was an American 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 E. Vins, in what Esquire called a "brutal murder". The case became synonymous with the debate concerning LGBT members of the military that had been brewing in the United States, culminating in the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Key Facts

  • This event took place on October 27, 1992 (AD era).
  • It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
  • Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
  • Wikipedia source last updated on 24 September 2026.

On This Date in History 441

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Notable Deaths 2015 Oct 27 Ayerdhal, French author (born 1959)
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Notable Deaths 2014 Oct 27 Daniel Boulanger, French actor and screenwriter (born 1922)
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Notable Deaths 2013 Oct 27 Noel Davern, Irish lawyer and politician, Minister for Education and Skills (born 1945)
Notable Deaths 2013 Oct 27 Leonard Herzenberg, American immunologist, geneticist, and academic (born 1931)
Notable Deaths 2013 Oct 27 Luigi Magni, Italian director and screenwriter (born 1928)
Notable Deaths 2013 Oct 27 Lou Reed, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor (born 1942)
Notable Deaths 2013 Oct 27 Michael Wilkes, English general and politician, Lieutenant Governor of Jersey (born 1940)
Notable Deaths 2013 Oct 27 Vinko Coce, Croatian opera and pop singer (born 1954)
Notable Deaths 2012 Oct 27 Terry Callier, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1945)
Notable Deaths 2012 Oct 27 Angelo Maria Cicolani, Italian engineer and politician (born 1952)
Notable Deaths 2012 Oct 27 Regina Dourado, Brazilian actress (born 1952)
Notable Deaths 2012 Oct 27 Hans Werner Henze, German composer and educator (born 1926)
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Notable Deaths 2011 Oct 27 James Hillman, American psychologist and author (born 1926)
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Notable Deaths 2010 Oct 27 Néstor Kirchner, Argentinian lawyer and politician, 51st President of Argentina (born 1950)
Notable Deaths 2009 Oct 27 John David Carson, American actor (born 1952)
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This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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