The story of a gay Vietnam veteran and his late husband went viral earlier this year, highlighting the experience of queer vets and bringing the internet to tears in the process.As 21-year-old Audri Pettirosi explained to People, after meeting her great uncle, Marshall Belmaine, for the first time last year and learning about his story, she felt compelled to share it on social media. Her March 13 TikTok post described his military service during the Vietnam War and his subsequent journey toward coming out and falling in love with his husband, Albert Wakefield. Related A majority of Americans still support transgender people serving in the military Republican opposition accounts for decline in recent years, according to Gallup. Hes just done so much for this country and for the gay community, Pettirosi told People about her uncle. Its just a very important story that I feel like really needs to be told. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today According to the magazine, Belmaine dropped out of high school due to anti-gay bullying and joined the Marine Corps in 1965. He remained in the closet throughout his military career and recounted facing homophobia from his family, including his half-brother, Pettirosis grandfather. While serving in Vietnam, Belmaine was hurt in 1967 and earned a Purple Heart for his attempts to save a fellow marine. He later went on to serve in the Caribbean and at Fort Meade, Maryland, eventually working for the National Security Agency before being honorably discharged in 1969. Returning to Massachusetts, he found work as a janitor, in factories, and at a laundromat.Pettirosi explained that she erroneously mentioned in her TikTok album that Belmaine and Wakefield, an Army veteran, met while both were still serving. In fact, the couple met at a bar in 1971. Five years later, Belmaine came out. The couple moved to South Florida in 1999 and married in 2015 following the Supreme Courts landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which extended the legal right to same-sex marriage in all 50 states. As Pettirosi noted in her TikTok post, the couple dedicated themselves to LGBTQ+ activism in the 80s and 90s. They also advocated for LGBTQ+ veterans, with Belmaine serving as the president of American Veterans for Equal Rights.We joined about 27 different organizations, Belmaine told People. When everybody was going out on a Friday or Saturday night, having fun, we were in a meeting fighting for civil rights.Pettirosis TikTok about her uncle has received nearly 70,000 likes since March and has been viewed over 585,000 times. Commenters have reported shedding tears over Belmaines story.Im a Marine that served when it was illegal to be gay and serve, one user wrote. Semper Fi to your uncle! As a Marine Vet, I can tell you there are a lot more of these stories out there that should be told, another commented.Others shared stories of their own and family members experiences both in Vietnam and as closeted marines, while also expressing gratitude for Belmaines service and for the fact that he was ultimately able to find love and live truthfully.I read through basically all the comments, Pettirosi said, and it was just so amazing to see these people just being like, Thank your uncle for us. He is a true American hero, and thank you for sharing his story. Both Belmaine and Pettirosi said they are still fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. While neither explicitly called out the president, who signed a January executive order banning transgender people from the military, they both expressed concern about the current political climate. Theres no room for hate in this world, Pettirosi said, and we got to stand up for whats right.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.