William Lindsay Koob III, Interview by Kerry Taylor, 26 February and 24 April 2010
Click Here to Read the Embedded Transcript
Click Here to Read the Transcript
- Title:
- William Lindsay Koob III, Interview by Kerry Taylor, 26 February and 24 April 2010
- Date:
- 2010
- Interviewer:
- Taylor, Kerry
- Interviewee:
- Koob, William Lindsay, III
- Description:
- William Lindsay Koob III (b. 1946) is a Citadel graduate (1968) who served fourteen years in US Army intelligence, rising to the rank of Major. While stationed at the Pentagon in 1987, he admitted under interrogation to being gay and was forced to resign his commission. A short time later, he came out to his parents and brother: “I told the whole story, and by that time I was in tears. My brother said a few things, and basically,everyone sat and waited for my father to respond--the retired army colonel. Here I was, the third generation of my family to serve in the military. But, my dad just kind of sat there, looking down at the table. After a while, he just got up from the table, and he walked around, and he pulled me to my feet and said, ‘Son, I don't like it, I don't understand it. I’m going to have to think about this for a long time, but you're my son and I love you.’ Could I have asked for anything more? No.” Koob further reported that his Citadel classmates, following the leadership of their company commander, have been accepting of his homosexuality: “I am still one of the brotherhood. And, for that, I will be eternally grateful.” Koob, who resides in Ladson, South Carolina, is an accomplished classical music critic and journalist.
- Collection Title:
- The Charleston Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- The Citadel Archives & Museum
- Media Type:
- Oral Histories
- Note:
- The Citadel prides itself on producing principled and ethical leaders for the military, as well as in business and civic affairs. The Citadel in War and Peace traces the life histories and career trajectories of alumni, staff, and faculty to better understand the university's multifaceted contributions to the U.S. national security and its continuing impact on the business and politics of South Carolina and the nation. An initial series of interviews focuses on Citadel alumni who served in World War II. It spotlights their combat experiences and recounts their return to civilian life and subsequent professional careers.
- Series:
- The Citadel in War and in Peace
- Sub-Series:
- Special Research
- Personal or Corporate Subject:
- Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, Koob, Lindsay, 1946-
- Topical Subject:
- Gay miliary personnel--United States, United States--Army--Gays, Military Intelligence--United States, Intelligence officers--United States
- Shelving Locator:
- 2010.035.002
- Date Digital:
- 2014-05-27
- Digitization Specifications:
- Mp3 derivative audio created with Audacity software. Archival masters are .wav files.
- Internet Media Type:
- audio/mpeg
- Copyright Status Statement:
- Digital resource copyright 2014, The Citadel Archives
- Admin ID:
- 221023
Permalink