The internet has been left in tears by the powerful story of Marshall Belmaine, a gay Vietnam veteran whose life of service, sacrifice, and enduring love was shared in a heartfelt TikTok by his great-niece—and has since gone viral.
The emotional tribute, posted on 13 March by 21-year-old Audri Pettirosi, details Belmaine’s time in the U.S. Marine Corps, his struggles with homophobia, and his long-standing relationship with his late husband, Albert Wakefield, also a veteran. Since being uploaded, the video has garnered more than 585,000 views and nearly 70,000 likes.
“He’s just done so much for this country and for the gay community,” Pettirosi told People. “It’s just a very important story that I feel like really needs to be told.”
Belmaine’s journey began in 1965 when he joined the military after dropping out of high school due to anti-gay bullying. He stayed closeted during his service—a necessity in an era where openly gay personnel faced dismissal or worse.
During his deployment to Vietnam, Belmaine was injured while trying to save a fellow Marine in 1967, earning him a Purple Heart. After serving in the Caribbean and at Fort Meade, Maryland, he worked with the National Security Agency before his honourable discharge in 1969.
The love story at the heart of Pettirosi’s post began in 1971 when Belmaine met Wakefield at a bar—contrary to her earlier claim they met during service. The two built a life together, eventually relocating to South Florida in 1999. They married in 2015, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalised same-sex marriage nationwide.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the couple channelled their energy into LGBTQ+ activism, joining more than two dozen civil rights organisations. Belmaine also served as president of American Veterans for Equal Rights, pushing for visibility and justice for queer service members.
“When everybody was going out on a Friday or Saturday night, having fun, we were in a meeting fighting for civil rights,” he told People.
The TikTok touched a nerve online, drawing comments from veterans and civilians alike. “Semper Fi to your uncle!” wrote one former Marine who served under the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel. Others shared their own or relatives’ stories of silent service and expressed deep admiration for Belmaine’s resilience and authenticity.
Pettirosi, who only met her great-uncle last year, was overwhelmed by the response. “It was just so amazing to see these people just being like, ‘Thank your uncle for us. He is a true American hero.’”
Both she and Belmaine remain committed to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights today. While not mentioning specific political leaders, they voiced concern about recent policy regressions, including bans on transgender military service.
“There’s no room for hate in this world,” said Pettirosi. “We’ve got to stand up for what’s right.”
