World War II Honoree

Sidney Poitier

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

An Indebted American

IN 1943, HE LIED ABOUT HIS AGE AND ENLISTED IN THE SERVICE. "WAS ASSIGNED TO A VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL IN NORTHPORT, NEW YORK AND TRAINED TO WORK WITH PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS. BECAME UPSET WITH HOW THE HOSPITAL TREATED ITS PATIENTS AND FEIGNED MENTAL ILLNESS TO OBTAIN A DISCHARGE. CONFESSED TO A PSYCHIATRIST THAT HE WAS FAKING HIS CONDITION, BUT THE DOCTOR WAS SYMPATHETIC AND GRANTED HIS DISCHARGE UNDER SECTION VII OF THE ARMY REGULATION 615-360 IN DECEMBER 1944."