Smoking Gun posts Jimi's military discharge records...

[ZIG]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0803051jimi1.html

Days before Private James Marshall Hendrix (Jimi to his friends) was
officially drummed out of the military, Army brass delivered withering
assessments of the 19-year-old soldier.

Hendrix, Captain Gilbert Batchman reported, slept on the job, had
little regard for regulations, and was once "apprehended masturbating"
in the latrine. Sergeant Louis Hoekstra noted that Hendrix was a
"habitual offender" when it came to missing midnight bed checks and
that the Seattle teenager was unable to "carry on an intelligent
conversation." Hoekstra added that Hendrix, who was once suspected of
"taking dope," played a musical instrument while off-duty, "or so he
says. This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot
function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar."

Those are just two of the gems contained in the late rock star's nearly
100-page Army file, which TSG obtained from the Military Personnel
Records center in St. Louis. You'll find highlights from the file on
the following 18 pages. The documents track Hendrix's messy 13 months
in the Army, beginning with his May 1961 three-year enlistment, which
came with his assurance that he wasn't a Commie and a handwritten
explanation about a juvenile burglary arrest. Hendrix, records show,
was a terrible marksman and a recidivist truant. Weeks after ordering a
physical and psychiatric examination of Hendrix (who was attached to
the 101st Airborne Support Group in Fort Campbell, Kentucky), Capt.
Batchman sought to discharge a soldier who was an "extreme intravert"
and whose many problems were not treatable by "hospitalization and or
counseling."

Included in the Army's discharge request were various statements from
fellow soldiers, all of whom thought Hendrix deserved to be bounced.
James Mattox, for example, recalled an April 1961 incident in which he,
Hendrix, and four other soldiers were assigned to wash a ceiling. When
Hendrix, who occasionally napped during the cleaning assignment,
disappeared at one point, Mattox went looking for him. He quickly found
Hendrix in the latrine, where he was "sitting in the last commode. I
thought he was sitting there sleeping so I stood on the stool in the
commode next to his and...there sat Hendrix masturbating himself."

For his part, Hendrix--who apparently hated life as an enlisted
man--did not challenge the discharge request, according to a signed
statement. At the time of his expulsion, Hendrix was allowed to leave
the military with some parting gifts, including some Army-issued
clothing. He also benefited from frequent dental care at Fort Campbell
and California's Fort Ord, which probably made it easier for him to
subsequently play that black Stratocaster with his teeth.

[Elmo' 7#9]

Thanks, Zig, for the info.

Post by ZIG
Hendrix, who was once suspected of
"taking dope,"

Not the clean-cut guy that appears on the Experience Hendrix products, then?

Post by ZIG
played a musical instrument while off-duty, "or so he
says. This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot
function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar."

Later on,
he was able to sing, chew gum, make jokes,
flirt with the audience and play guitar simultaneously.
There's hope for us all.

Post by ZIG
Hendrix in the latrine, where he was "sitting in the last commode. I
thought he was sitting there sleeping so I stood on the stool in the
commode next to his and...there sat Hendrix masturbating himself."

Masturbating *Himself* (not a dog, cat, horse or fellow enlisted man).
I might prefer having a wank to washing a ceiling, too.

Elmo' 7#9

[gipsy boy]

Post by Elmo' 7#9
Thanks, Zig, for the info.

Post by ZIG
Hendrix in the latrine, where he was "sitting in the last commode. I
thought he was sitting there sleeping so I stood on the stool in the
commode next to his and...there sat Hendrix masturbating himself."

Masturbating *Himself* (not a dog, cat, horse or fellow enlisted man).
I might prefer having a wank to washing a ceiling, too.

With me, the latter act usually follows the former :-)

(I am sorry, in a really cheeky mood today)

[Mix]

The disclosure of Private Hendrix' military records is actually quite a
revelation. For instance, I never knew, until ZIG pointed it out, that
Hendrix was a supply clerk, and not an Airborne Ranger, although he was
probably a support soldier for that unit. The information heretofore made
available would have led one to believe that he was an operational soldier,
i.e., the guy who would have parachuted in and gone in shooting. Jimi
didn't volunteer much about his military activity other than in an interview
conducted by Meatball Fulton, contained on the CD _HendrixSpeaks_ and in an
abridged version on the LP, _Soundtrack Recordings From The Film - Jimi
Hendrix_.

This is from memory, describing his first parachute jump. I seriously doubt
that there were others.

"Oh, that first jump was really outasight. We're in a plane -- some cats
has never been in a plane before. There was a big bucket, a big garbage can
sitting in the middle (laughing) -- it was great! In the beginning the
plane was going ROOOAAAR and just roaring and shaking and the rivets were
jumping around, talking about "what am I doing here"? Oh, we'd have to
start from the third person down, but I was just watching them... And it's
almost like blank and it's almost like crying and you pat the sergeant on
the back and say 'You were just joking, weren't you, Sarge? Ha ha.'. And
then you're up there like that and it's just...oooohhhh."

How could Jimi have conformed to military discipline when he had no
foundations in his home(s)? Both of his parents were party animals, at
least on the front end. "Dad danced and played the spoons", said Jimi. And
we know about his Mom. Then during his childhood he was shuffled from this
home to the next one. Does anyone believe for a second that Jimi didn't get
his ears boxed for a'leaving broom straws at the edge of the bed while he
was a'strummin' it like a guitar after he was told to sweep the floor? Al
had absolutely no faith in any idea that his son would succeed at anything
or amount to anything until after he made it. And then, the only advice he
had to give him was "Keep your nose clean, little son", as opposed to
"Please remember the values I instilled in you during my upbringing of you."
He couldn't say that, because he didn't bring him up, most of the time.
Jimi didn't have a chance in the military, never having had a stable home or
an authority figure other than Ms. Freddie Mae and a sad few others as he
was coming up as a child. My Cross book should be here this weekend. I
found it for 12 bucks, so I got snail shipping, so perhaps I shouldn't say
anything more until after I've read it. If it ever gets here....

Beating one's self off in military latrines was and is de rigueur. The
women don't show up around the barracks until payday, and maybe a day or two
after that, but then they're gone. I was married so I wasn't bothered with
all that.

But more to a point you'd made a few posts back: Did Jimi know who we was
at 23? Hell, no! Look at how f*cked up he was at 27. But someone wise
once told me that unless something or someone intervenes, the way it begins
will be the way it ends. Jimi wouldn't have known real love if he tripped
over it, given how often he'd been betrayed (or played himself to suit
others).

Did he know who he was as a 19-year old Army private?

By the way, very funny.

Post by gipsy boy

Post by Elmo' 7#9
Thanks, Zig, for the info.

Post by ZIG
Hendrix in the latrine, where he was "sitting in the last commode. I
thought he was sitting there sleeping so I stood on the stool in the
commode next to his and...there sat Hendrix masturbating himself."

Masturbating *Himself* (not a dog, cat, horse or fellow enlisted man).
I might prefer having a wank to washing a ceiling, too.

With me, the latter act usually follows the former :-)
(I am sorry, in a really cheeky mood today)
--
gipsy boy

[Mad Dog]

Mix says...

Post by Mix
The disclosure of Private Hendrix' military records is actually quite a
revelation. For instance, I never knew, until ZIG pointed it out, that
Hendrix was a supply clerk, and not an Airborne Ranger, although he was
probably a support soldier for that unit.

Seems like that was out there somewhere, like maybe a letter to his dad talked
about the supply clerk position.

Post by Mix
How could Jimi have conformed to military discipline when he had no
foundations in his home(s)?

I hear ya. On one hand, it might have initially been a comfortable thing to
him, but I'd bet it got old really quick. Then he got to have his guitar
shipped out and it was game over.

Post by Mix
My Cross book should be here this weekend.

I finished reading it last week and am currently collating notes. I'm sure
you'll get something positive out of it. Review coming - which you'll want to
skip till you're done reading it, no doubt.

Post by Mix
Beating one's self off in military latrines was and is de rigueur.

Only military latrines?

Post by Mix
But more to a point you'd made a few posts back: Did Jimi know who we was
at 23? Hell, no! Look at how f*cked up he was at 27. But someone wise
once told me that unless something or someone intervenes, the way it begins
will be the way it ends. Jimi wouldn't have known real love if he tripped
over it, given how often he'd been betrayed (or played himself to suit
others).

He looked to be searching for it but I think you're right about not knowing it
if he tripped over it. Likewise, he didn't seem to be bothered by having
bloodsuckers in his midst either.

[Elmo' 7#9]

Post by Mad Dog

Post by Mix
Beating one's self off in military latrines was and is de rigueur.

Only military latrines?

Yeah, otherwise it wouldn't be a Military Discharge!


Elmo' 7#9
(everyone wants to be a comedian)

[axis in ladyland]

My favorite:

"No known good characteristics."

[axis in ladyland]

"Pvt Hendrix started out showing lack of interest in his equipment..."

[lewd, crude wisecrack expurgated here]

[Mix]

Excellent find, ZIG! It's a rare occasion where I actually print a post,
but that's one for the books!

I also enjoyed Elmo' 7#9's follow-up :-).

Thanks, folks!

Post by ZIG
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0803051jimi1.html
Days before Private James Marshall Hendrix (Jimi to his friends) was
officially drummed out of the military, Army brass delivered withering
assessments of the 19-year-old soldier.
Hendrix, Captain Gilbert Batchman reported, slept on the job, had
little regard for regulations, and was once "apprehended masturbating"
in the latrine. Sergeant Louis Hoekstra noted that Hendrix was a
"habitual offender" when it came to missing midnight bed checks and
that the Seattle teenager was unable to "carry on an intelligent
conversation." Hoekstra added that Hendrix, who was once suspected of
"taking dope," played a musical instrument while off-duty, "or so he
says. This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot
function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar."
Those are just two of the gems contained in the late rock star's nearly
100-page Army file, which TSG obtained from the Military Personnel
Records center in St. Louis. You'll find highlights from the file on
the following 18 pages. The documents track Hendrix's messy 13 months
in the Army, beginning with his May 1961 three-year enlistment, which
came with his assurance that he wasn't a Commie and a handwritten
explanation about a juvenile burglary arrest. Hendrix, records show,
was a terrible marksman and a recidivist truant. Weeks after ordering a
physical and psychiatric examination of Hendrix (who was attached to
the 101st Airborne Support Group in Fort Campbell, Kentucky), Capt.
Batchman sought to discharge a soldier who was an "extreme intravert"
and whose many problems were not treatable by "hospitalization and or
counseling."
Included in the Army's discharge request were various statements from
fellow soldiers, all of whom thought Hendrix deserved to be bounced.
James Mattox, for example, recalled an April 1961 incident in which he,
Hendrix, and four other soldiers were assigned to wash a ceiling. When
Hendrix, who occasionally napped during the cleaning assignment,
disappeared at one point, Mattox went looking for him. He quickly found
Hendrix in the latrine, where he was "sitting in the last commode. I
thought he was sitting there sleeping so I stood on the stool in the
commode next to his and...there sat Hendrix masturbating himself."
For his part, Hendrix--who apparently hated life as an enlisted
man--did not challenge the discharge request, according to a signed
statement. At the time of his expulsion, Hendrix was allowed to leave
the military with some parting gifts, including some Army-issued
clothing. He also benefited from frequent dental care at Fort Campbell
and California's Fort Ord, which probably made it easier for him to
subsequently play that black Stratocaster with his teeth.

[Mix]

Oh -- y'all have GOT to read the story about the "juvenile offense". This
is rich, and it's in Jimi's own handwriting.

(QUOTE) "A friend and I were playing around in an ally (sic) and we noticed
a broken window in the back of a clothing store. We then got a cloths (sic)
hanger which was lying on the ground and unbent it so we could stick it
through the window and "hook" some clothes which we did. The clothes that
didn't fit us, we gave to a Christmas fund at school and that's how we got
caught....."

I always thought he was popped for car theft and joy-riding! But then Jimi
could neither drive very well nor see very well. My recollection is that he
demolished a yellow Corvette Stingray that he actually owned (for a short
time, at least) in Laurel Canyon.

Post by Mix
Excellent find, ZIG! It's a rare occasion where I actually print a post,
but that's one for the books!
I also enjoyed Elmo' 7#9's follow-up :-).
Thanks, folks!

Post by ZIG
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0803051jimi1.html
Days before Private James Marshall Hendrix (Jimi to his friends) was
officially drummed out of the military, Army brass delivered withering
assessments of the 19-year-old soldier.
Hendrix, Captain Gilbert Batchman reported, slept on the job, had
little regard for regulations, and was once "apprehended masturbating"
in the latrine. Sergeant Louis Hoekstra noted that Hendrix was a
"habitual offender" when it came to missing midnight bed checks and
that the Seattle teenager was unable to "carry on an intelligent
conversation." Hoekstra added that Hendrix, who was once suspected of
"taking dope," played a musical instrument while off-duty, "or so he
says. This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot
function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar."
Those are just two of the gems contained in the late rock star's nearly
100-page Army file, which TSG obtained from the Military Personnel
Records center in St. Louis. You'll find highlights from the file on
the following 18 pages. The documents track Hendrix's messy 13 months
in the Army, beginning with his May 1961 three-year enlistment, which
came with his assurance that he wasn't a Commie and a handwritten
explanation about a juvenile burglary arrest. Hendrix, records show,
was a terrible marksman and a recidivist truant. Weeks after ordering a
physical and psychiatric examination of Hendrix (who was attached to
the 101st Airborne Support Group in Fort Campbell, Kentucky), Capt.
Batchman sought to discharge a soldier who was an "extreme intravert"
and whose many problems were not treatable by "hospitalization and or
counseling."
Included in the Army's discharge request were various statements from
fellow soldiers, all of whom thought Hendrix deserved to be bounced.
James Mattox, for example, recalled an April 1961 incident in which he,
Hendrix, and four other soldiers were assigned to wash a ceiling. When
Hendrix, who occasionally napped during the cleaning assignment,
disappeared at one point, Mattox went looking for him. He quickly found
Hendrix in the latrine, where he was "sitting in the last commode. I
thought he was sitting there sleeping so I stood on the stool in the
commode next to his and...there sat Hendrix masturbating himself."
For his part, Hendrix--who apparently hated life as an enlisted
man--did not challenge the discharge request, according to a signed
statement. At the time of his expulsion, Hendrix was allowed to leave
the military with some parting gifts, including some Army-issued
clothing. He also benefited from frequent dental care at Fort Campbell
and California's Fort Ord, which probably made it easier for him to
subsequently play that black Stratocaster with his teeth.

[Mix]

BTW, Buddy Miles was also popped (post-BoG) for robbing a clothing store.

Post by Mix
Oh -- y'all have GOT to read the story about the "juvenile offense". This
is rich, and it's in Jimi's own handwriting.
(QUOTE) "A friend and I were playing around in an ally (sic) and we noticed
a broken window in the back of a clothing store. We then got a cloths (sic)
hanger which was lying on the ground and unbent it so we could stick it
through the window and "hook" some clothes which we did. The clothes that
didn't fit us, we gave to a Christmas fund at school and that's how we got
caught....."
I always thought he was popped for car theft and joy-riding! But then Jimi
could neither drive very well nor see very well. My recollection is that he
demolished a yellow Corvette Stingray that he actually owned (for a short
time, at least) in Laurel Canyon.

Post by Mix
Excellent find, ZIG! It's a rare occasion where I actually print a post,
but that's one for the books!
I also enjoyed Elmo' 7#9's follow-up :-).
Thanks, folks!

Post by ZIG
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0803051jimi1.html
Days before Private James Marshall Hendrix (Jimi to his friends) was
officially drummed out of the military, Army brass delivered withering
assessments of the 19-year-old soldier.
Hendrix, Captain Gilbert Batchman reported, slept on the job, had
little regard for regulations, and was once "apprehended masturbating"
in the latrine. Sergeant Louis Hoekstra noted that Hendrix was a
"habitual offender" when it came to missing midnight bed checks and
that the Seattle teenager was unable to "carry on an intelligent
conversation." Hoekstra added that Hendrix, who was once suspected of
"taking dope," played a musical instrument while off-duty, "or so he
says. This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot
function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar."
Those are just two of the gems contained in the late rock star's nearly
100-page Army file, which TSG obtained from the Military Personnel
Records center in St. Louis. You'll find highlights from the file on
the following 18 pages. The documents track Hendrix's messy 13 months
in the Army, beginning with his May 1961 three-year enlistment, which
came with his assurance that he wasn't a Commie and a handwritten
explanation about a juvenile burglary arrest. Hendrix, records show,
was a terrible marksman and a recidivist truant. Weeks after ordering a
physical and psychiatric examination of Hendrix (who was attached to
the 101st Airborne Support Group in Fort Campbell, Kentucky), Capt.
Batchman sought to discharge a soldier who was an "extreme intravert"
and whose many problems were not treatable by "hospitalization and or
counseling."
Included in the Army's discharge request were various statements from
fellow soldiers, all of whom thought Hendrix deserved to be bounced.
James Mattox, for example, recalled an April 1961 incident in which he,
Hendrix, and four other soldiers were assigned to wash a ceiling. When
Hendrix, who occasionally napped during the cleaning assignment,
disappeared at one point, Mattox went looking for him. He quickly found
Hendrix in the latrine, where he was "sitting in the last commode. I
thought he was sitting there sleeping so I stood on the stool in the
commode next to his and...there sat Hendrix masturbating himself."
For his part, Hendrix--who apparently hated life as an enlisted
man--did not challenge the discharge request, according to a signed
statement. At the time of his expulsion, Hendrix was allowed to leave
the military with some parting gifts, including some Army-issued
clothing. He also benefited from frequent dental care at Fort Campbell
and California's Fort Ord, which probably made it easier for him to
subsequently play that black Stratocaster with his teeth.

[gipsy boy]

Post by Mix
BTW, Buddy Miles was also popped (post-BoG) for robbing a clothing store.

What do you mean, 'robbing'? Got any more info on this?
(not that it interests me *tremendously*, heh..but I was wondering if
guns were involved)

[Mix]

Yeah, I don't have the article readily available to me, but back in the
'90s, _Rolling Stone_ used to run a feature called "Where Are They Now"?
One article was on Buddy Miles. At the time, he was either serving at San
Quentin (IIRC) or just out. It was accompanied by a black & white photo of
Buddy with his hair straightened, playing a white Strat. The article
detailed Buddy's life post-BoG, and stated that he did jail time for grand
theft auto and for breaking into a clothing store. That is, two separate
periods of imprisonment. This was also the article in which Buddy made the
outrageous claim (IMHO) that he was "more or less the leader of the Band of
Gypsys".

Anyway, since the charge was "breaking in", I would guess that there were
no guns involved. "No bullets! No guns! No bombs!" ;-)

Post by gipsy boy

Post by Mix
BTW, Buddy Miles was also popped (post-BoG) for robbing a clothing store.

What do you mean, 'robbing'? Got any more info on this?
(not that it interests me *tremendously*, heh..but I was wondering if guns
were involved)
--
gipsy boy

[gipsy boy]

Post by Mix
This was also the article in which Buddy made the
outrageous claim (IMHO) that he was "more or less the leader of the Band of
Gypsys".

I love how that "H" stands for "hysterical" :)

Thanks for the information, heh..

[ray]

With 20 years in the United States Army, and a year with the 101st
Airborne Division, I must chime (octave hamonic from stone free) in on
the documents that have been posted on the smokinggun web site.

Back when Jimi was serving it was called the "brown shoe" army. Very
old school, with no tolerance for anything out of the norm. And,
without the Vietnam War in full swing, many troops were ousted for any
violation of military regulations.

At the Fort Campbell military post there was something called a service
club. You could go in and check out a guitar or drums or bass and jam
to get some recreation outside of duty and the barracks. The Eagles
Roost was the name of the service club where Jimi met Billy Cox.

After reading the eighteen (18) pages, from the smoking gun site, I
have some observations about the charges that led to Hendrix's early
discharge.

The testimony by the soldiers who were serving with Jimi seemed to be
prompted by someone who was out to frame Hendrix. The typed statements
that refer to "masturbation" just seem way out of the ballpark. All
men stationed in the barracks with other males always make jokes about
choking your chicken. To make an issue out of it in a public hearing
just does not happen. The conservative officers and Sergeants must
have been gunning for Jimi. The pukes who were
enlisted men, who went along with the frame, were ass kissers looking
for some kind of promotion or worse.

Drug use was not a major thing in the Army back in the early 60's. No
piss tests! The statement about Jimi thinking about his guitar so much
that he could not perform his assigned duties is is groundless. All
units in the Army have musicians in the ranks that still perform their
Military Occupational Specialties (including supply clerks).

The kangaroo tribunal that booted Jimi was some small time prejudice
filled good-old-boys club that did not want Jimi in the mix.

I am sure that Jimi wanted out anyway.
Nevertheless, the United States Army is more open minded about the
individuals who serve in it's ranks.

Now, we must read Billy Cox's military records to get to the bass of
the matter.

Thanks ZIG for pointing out all those historical documents. I must
admit, I did laugh over some of the testimony.

[axis in ladyland]

QUOTE....The testimony by the soldiers who were serving with Jimi
seemed to be
prompted by someone who was out to frame Hendrix. The typed statements

that refer to "masturbation" just seem way out of the ballpark. All
men stationed in the barracks with other males always make jokes about
choking your chicken. To make an issue out of it in a public hearing
just does not happen. The conservative officers and Sergeants must
have been gunning for Jimi....ENDQUOTE

FWIW: If you read _Room Full of Mirrors_ you know that the military
records posted on smoking gun are "incomplete." For example, missing
(among other things) are the reports from the psychologist Jimi went to
several times to confess his homosexual attraction to one of his
barracks' buds...

[Mix]

Hello, Axis:

Seems as though Cross was able to access Private Hendrix' military medical
files, whereas the stuff on TSG seems to be gleaned exclusively from
Hendrix' personnel files. This seems to be supported by the fact that Cross
makes no reference to Pvt. Hendrix' statement to Army officials contained on
TSG about the clothing store, pre-enlistment.

Yup. I got my copy of _RFOM_ in the mail yesterday, and should have it
done by tonight.

BTW, during my 20 years in the military, I discharged my share of young
troops who just didn't make the cut. It would seem to me that the
information contained in the personnel file alone had ample legal
sufficiency to ensure Hendrix an honorable discharge due to unsuitability.
Sleeping on the job, not reporting to formations, bed-checks or details and
poor duty performance were more than enough to get Hendrix chaptered out.
That Jimi would take it as far out as he did makes a strong point to
illustrate Jimi's desperation to get out of that environment as quickly as
he possibly could. I wonder what the official character of his discharge
was...? Honorable? Honorable Under General? Probably not dishonorable,
but no one really says...

Post by axis in ladyland
QUOTE....The testimony by the soldiers who were serving with Jimi
seemed to be
prompted by someone who was out to frame Hendrix. The typed statements
that refer to "masturbation" just seem way out of the ballpark. All
men stationed in the barracks with other males always make jokes about
choking your chicken. To make an issue out of it in a public hearing
just does not happen. The conservative officers and Sergeants must
have been gunning for Jimi....ENDQUOTE
FWIW: If you read _Room Full of Mirrors_ you know that the military
records posted on smoking gun are "incomplete." For example, missing
(among other things) are the reports from the psychologist Jimi went to
several times to confess his homosexual attraction to one of his
barracks' buds...

[ray]

Very observant members on this ongoing thread about Jimi Hendrix's
military service.

One thing that must be stated/typed is this:

Private Hendrix made it through Jump School and got his wings by being
QUALIFIED Airborne. That accomplishment is no easy task. More
soldiers get booted out of jump school than any other special training
except Special Forces (Green Beret).

When you watch the video of Jimi diving down on the stage floor and
playing his guitar "laying down" during the Monterey Festival it is
very similar to a PLF (Practice Landing Fall). This is taught in jump
school. Jimi had about 27 jumps before he injured his ankle.

All this privy information from the "new" book Room Full of Mirrors
about Hendrix's alleged homosexuality should be taken with a grain of
salt as the author is trying to boost sales with this "smoking pistol".

What are the qualifications of the author of RFOM?

I saw an article on the web site of BBC that shows a picture of him.
And, the headline is: "Was Hendrix Gay".

Come on Hendrix historians----------pull your copy of
Electric Gypsy [by Harry Shapiro & Caesar Glebbeek] off the shelf and
reread it real slow.

[axis in ladyland]

QUOTE....All this privy information from the "new" book Room Full of
Mirrors about Hendrix's alleged homosexuality should be taken with a
grain of salt as the author is trying to boost sales with this "smoking
pistol"....ENDQUOTE

Au contraire.

And CC is just about the most credible journalist to've written about
JH seriously to date. Easy enough to do your own research on the
matter, though.

Post by ray
Very observant members on this ongoing thread about Jimi Hendrix's
military service.
Private Hendrix made it through Jump School and got his wings by being
QUALIFIED Airborne. That accomplishment is no easy task. More
soldiers get booted out of jump school than any other special training
except Special Forces (Green Beret).
When you watch the video of Jimi diving down on the stage floor and
playing his guitar "laying down" during the Monterey Festival it is
very similar to a PLF (Practice Landing Fall). This is taught in jump
school. Jimi had about 27 jumps before he injured his ankle.
All this privy information from the "new" book Room Full of Mirrors
about Hendrix's alleged homosexuality should be taken with a grain of
salt as the author is trying to boost sales with this "smoking pistol".
What are the qualifications of the author of RFOM?
I saw an article on the web site of BBC that shows a picture of him.
And, the headline is: "Was Hendrix Gay".
Come on Hendrix historians----------pull your copy of
Electric Gypsy [by Harry Shapiro & Caesar Glebbeek] off the shelf and
reread it real slow.

[Mix]

FWIW, neither the author nor anyone else with a brain believes Hendrix swung
that way. The author goes to great pains to call it an "elaborate ruse" or
words to that effect. Why everyone chooses to glom on to that morsel of a
non-incident when the telling of the entirety of Hendrix' story was so rich
in scope and well-presented is beyond me. Homosexuality was not "alleged"
by Cross, but rather, the media took Cross' words out of context in the
interests of tabloid sensationalism. And Cross' book is generating real
interest among even non-Hendrix fans, including my wife.

I remember a few months back when Sharon Lawrence's book came out. The
conventional wisdom was, "Who but a fan would care about another book about
Hendrix? He's been dead 35 years -- what more can be said about him?" Then
Cross' book came out.

Post by ray
Very observant members on this ongoing thread about Jimi Hendrix's
military service.
Private Hendrix made it through Jump School and got his wings by being
QUALIFIED Airborne. That accomplishment is no easy task. More
soldiers get booted out of jump school than any other special training
except Special Forces (Green Beret).
When you watch the video of Jimi diving down on the stage floor and
playing his guitar "laying down" during the Monterey Festival it is
very similar to a PLF (Practice Landing Fall). This is taught in jump
school. Jimi had about 27 jumps before he injured his ankle.
All this privy information from the "new" book Room Full of Mirrors
about Hendrix's alleged homosexuality should be taken with a grain of
salt as the author is trying to boost sales with this "smoking pistol".
What are the qualifications of the author of RFOM?
I saw an article on the web site of BBC that shows a picture of him.
And, the headline is: "Was Hendrix Gay".
Come on Hendrix historians----------pull your copy of
Electric Gypsy [by Harry Shapiro & Caesar Glebbeek] off the shelf and
reread it real slow.

[ray]

I see! Mix

The subject of Jimi Hendrix should get a wider reading audience. I
shall hunt down the CC RFOM book and give it a ride.

thanks ya all

[axis in ladyland]

Post by Mix
Seems as though Cross was able to access Private Hendrix' military medical
files, whereas the stuff on TSG seems to be gleaned exclusively from
Hendrix' personnel files.

Hi Mix---

Access to the mm files were obtained by Cross through a trade; he gave
up something precious, and the anonymous collector who has them in his
possession let him see 'em. This according to Cross in a separate,
post-publication interview.

Post by Mix
This seems to be supported by the fact that Cross
makes no reference to Pvt. Hendrix' statement to Army officials contained on
TSG about the clothing store, pre-enlistment.
Yup. I got my copy of _RFOM_ in the mail yesterday, and should have it
done by tonight.
BTW, during my 20 years in the military, I discharged my share of young
troops who just didn't make the cut. It would seem to me that the
information contained in the personnel file alone had ample legal
sufficiency to ensure Hendrix an honorable discharge due to unsuitability.
Sleeping on the job, not reporting to formations, bed-checks or details and
poor duty performance were more than enough to get Hendrix chaptered out.
That Jimi would take it as far out as he did makes a strong point to
illustrate Jimi's desperation to get out of that environment as quickly as
he possibly could. I wonder what the official character of his discharge
was...? Honorable? Honorable Under General? Probably not dishonorable,
but no one really says...

Seems I've seen it in writing, in official or semi-official form, given
as honorable, though I can't offhand recall the source. And there's
about a 10% chance I'm mistaken, conflating documents; been looking at
tons of things of late, not all sorted out as yet.

Post by Mix

Post by axis in ladyland
QUOTE....The testimony by the soldiers who were serving with Jimi
seemed to be
prompted by someone who was out to frame Hendrix. The typed statements
that refer to "masturbation" just seem way out of the ballpark. All
men stationed in the barracks with other males always make jokes about
choking your chicken. To make an issue out of it in a public hearing
just does not happen. The conservative officers and Sergeants must
have been gunning for Jimi....ENDQUOTE
FWIW: If you read _Room Full of Mirrors_ you know that the military
records posted on smoking gun are "incomplete." For example, missing
(among other things) are the reports from the psychologist Jimi went to
several times to confess his homosexual attraction to one of his
barracks' buds...

[Sid Lewis]

Please forgive me asking the question relating to Jimi's army days but who
gives a shit?

Was he gay? Who cares?

Was he suitable material for the army in the first place? Again who cares?

Did he wank whilst in the army? ----ditto---

I am and have been a serious Jimi fan since he first hit England.

Surely, it's his music that counts not if he ever picked his nose or not?

I remember all the British press saying how he was a "drug addled, sex
crazed wild man" when he died, apparently, it sells more newspapers but I
thought that had all dried up.

He was a beautifully expressive guitar player and all his so called
"personal problems", no doubt, helped him produce what he did.

No wonder he could never find a true friend to trust.


Sid Lewis

[Mad Dog]

Sid Lewis says...

Post by Sid Lewis
Please forgive me asking the question relating to Jimi's army days but who
gives a shit?
Was he gay? Who cares?

For sure, this all made me laugh. We've seen it all before - some people need
an excuse to spout their ignorance and bias. Cross just did the reporting and
there's nothing wrong with that. I'm with you, I could care less if he was gay.
My suspicion is that he was clever and found a functional loophole. More power
to him if that's true.

Post by Sid Lewis
No wonder he could never find a true friend to trust.

Well, not enough to make a difference, anyway.

[axis in ladyland]

QUOTE.... I wonder what the official character of his discharge was...?
Honorable? Honorable Under General?.....ENDQUOTE

I missed this line in doc 9 the first time around:

"20. Character and type of discharge recommended: Undesireable - DD
Form 258a"

[Mix]

Whoa!

Post by axis in ladyland
QUOTE.... I wonder what the official character of his discharge was...?
Honorable? Honorable Under General?.....ENDQUOTE
"20. Character and type of discharge recommended: Undesireable - DD
Form 258a"

[ray]

"20. Character and type of discharge recommended: Undesireable - DD
Form 258a"

What the hell, Walt Disney had a Dishonorable Discharge and used
to hang it upside down behind him
during the filming of the TV Show "The Wonderful World of Disney".

Both Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Disney spread the American Imagination
throughout the civilized world.

Hmmm.....what was that Jimi Song....
Astro Man? :*)

[ray]

Here I come to save the day

A little boy inside a dream just the other day
His mind fell out of his face and the wind blew it away
A hand came out from heaven and pinned a badge on his chest
It said 'get out there, man, and do your best'

They call him astro man
And he's flyin' higher than
That faggot superman ever could

Oh, they call him cosmic nut
And he's twice as dense as donald duck
And he'll try his best toscrew you up
The rest of your mind
Oh, look out! my guitars

Astro man, flyin' across the sky two times higher
Than that old faggot superman ever, ever could
Ever could

There he goes, there he goes
Where he stops, no one knows
There he goes, there he goes
He's tryin' to, tryin' to blow out the rest of your mind
He's gonna blow out the rest of your mind
Talkin' about lookin' for peace of mind
Astro man will leave it in pieces
Have you put our trouble behind him
Make you fly around in pieces
Yeah, blow out the rest of your mind
Astro man will blow out the rest of your mind
He's gonna blow out the rest of your mind

Jimi Hendrix