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| LGBT Falklands veteran's 'over the moon' at medal return | LGBT Falklands veteran's 'over the moon' at medal return |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Falklands veteran forced out of the Royal Navy due to his sexuality has had a medal returned to him 27 years after it was cut off his chest. | |
| Joe Ousalice was a radio operator for 18 years, but was discharged in 1993 because of a ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces. | |
| Mr Ousalice, of Southampton, was "over the moon" to get the medal back. | |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) previously admitted its policy had been "wrong, discriminatory and unjust". | The Ministry of Defence (MoD) previously admitted its policy had been "wrong, discriminatory and unjust". |
| Mr Ousalice was re-awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and three Good Conduct badges, during a ceremony at HMS Excellent, Portsmouth. | |
| He said: "I was living a double life. I had to be careful about what I said and did, and where I went. Basically I wasn't living my own life. | He said: "I was living a double life. I had to be careful about what I said and did, and where I went. Basically I wasn't living my own life. |
| "They cut [the medal] off my chest with a big pair of scissors." | |
| Mr Ousalice said he was "over the moon - it's just such a shame it's taken 27 years to get it". | Mr Ousalice said he was "over the moon - it's just such a shame it's taken 27 years to get it". |
| "I'm not fighting this just for myself but for hundreds of others who have been treated not too dissimilar to myself." | "I'm not fighting this just for myself but for hundreds of others who have been treated not too dissimilar to myself." |
| He served on board MV Myrmidon, part of the task force dispatched to liberate the Falkland Islands after the Argentinean invasion in 1982. | He served on board MV Myrmidon, part of the task force dispatched to liberate the Falkland Islands after the Argentinean invasion in 1982. |
| His career also included six tours of duty in Northern Ireland and he was seconded to a Nato task force. | His career also included six tours of duty in Northern Ireland and he was seconded to a Nato task force. |
| The medal was stripped from him when he was discharged because his bisexuality was believed to be "prejudicial to good order and naval discipline". | The medal was stripped from him when he was discharged because his bisexuality was believed to be "prejudicial to good order and naval discipline". |
| The MoD said Mr Ousalice was "treated in a way that would not be acceptable today and for that we apologise". | The MoD said Mr Ousalice was "treated in a way that would not be acceptable today and for that we apologise". |
| "We accept our policy in respect of serving homosexuals in the military was wrong, discriminatory and unjust to the individuals involved," it added. | "We accept our policy in respect of serving homosexuals in the military was wrong, discriminatory and unjust to the individuals involved," it added. |
| It is understood a scheme will also be set up by the MoD to return medals to other veterans. | It is understood a scheme will also be set up by the MoD to return medals to other veterans. |