Murder of Allen R. Schindler Jr.

Allen R. Schindler Jr.
Born(1969-12-13)December 13, 1969
Chicago Heights, Illinois, US
DiedOctober 27, 1992(1992-10-27) (aged 22)
Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
RankE4 Radioman 3rd Class

Allen R. Schindler Jr. (December 13, 1969 – October 27, 1992) 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".[1][2] 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.[2]

Schindler's family was only able to identify him by the tattoos on his arms.[3] His killing remained front-page news throughout the spring of 1993.[4] The case was later featured in The New York Times and Esquire.[3][5] 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.[6] In 1998, Any Mother's Son won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Made for TV Movie.[7]

  1. ^ Jameson, Sam (May 28, 1993), "U.S. Sailor Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Murder", Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on December 12, 2012, retrieved March 21, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Brown, Chip (December 1, 1993), "The Accidental Martyr", Esquire, archived from the original on March 27, 2008, retrieved March 21, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Green, Jesse (September 12, 1993), "What the Navy Taught Allen Schindler's Mother", New York Times, archived from the original on April 10, 2023, retrieved March 29, 2010.
  4. ^ Highleyman, Liz (April 4, 2007). "Who was Allen Schindler?". Bay Area Reporter. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Brown, Chip (December 1, 1993). "The Accidental Martyr". Esquire | The Complete Archive. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Any Mother's Son – About the Movie". Lifetime Television. Archived from the original on January 26, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  7. ^ "GLAAD Awards Part I in NYC". PlanetOut Inc. March 31, 1998. Archived from the original on February 1, 2002. Retrieved February 12, 2002.