Harvey Milk’s name returned to headlines after the defense secretary ordered the name of the slain gay rights advocate, who served in the Navy, removed from a naval ship. But Milk’s legacy ...

Milk was assassinated in November 1978, just 11 months into his term, aged 48. In recognition of his legacy, the U.S. Navy named a ship—the USNS Harvey Milk—in his honor in 2016.

However, Milk resigned in 1955 from his rank of lieutenant junior grade after being questioned about his sexual orientation, according to the Harvey Milk Foundation’s website.