For The Convenience Of The Government
A Memoir of a Veteran Discharged from the United States Navy for being Gay

Serving in the United States Navy during the 1980's, a golden opportunity became a dark nightmare for Petty Officer Phillip Zimmerman. For The Convenience of the Government is a memoir of a decorated veteran who was discharged from military service because of his sexual orientation and the discriminatory policies of the United States Government.

Petty Officer Zimmerman recounts his memories, fears and experiences, from a painfully lonely life as a teenager in Philadelphia to his meteoric rise as one of the most competent and capable Arabic and Farsi Crypto-Linguists in the Naval Security Group and the destructive end of a promising career.

This is one man's story about proudly serving his nation while coming to terms with a deep secret about who and what he really is.