Jeffrey Dahmer’s Alcoholism and Discharge from the Military

Jeffrey Dahmer is one of the most sensationalized American serial killers of all time. However, he’s also one of those few who have lived or tried to live a life that most people would call normal.

He went to high school and college, and even got himself inducted into the military. But due to some issues, he was discharged from the service. So, why was Jeffrey Dahmer made to resign from his service?

Jeffrey Dahmer was an alcoholic and had been reprimanded for having been intoxicated on multiple occasions. His alcohol abuse was reported during his time at Ohio State University, his military training at Fort Sam, and his post at Baumholder, West Germany.

After passing out of high school, Dahmer joined the Ohio State University. However, he studied there only for three months, after which he dropped out. During this time, his alcohol abuse had worsened.

As a result, his father got him enlisted in the US Army. At first, he was stationed at Fort Sam, Houston, for training as a medical specialist. Here, he was caught intoxicated on at least one occasion and was reprimanded for the same.

After completing his training, he was sent to Baumholder as a combat medic and served there between 1979 and 1981. During this time, besides indulging in alcohol abuse, he sexually assaulted two of his fellow officers.

However, this came out in the open much later, when all his killings were made public in 1991. As a result, the only reason behind Dahmer’s discharge from the army was his alcoholism.

It is interesting to note that he was given an honorable discharge because the officials believed that his alcohol abuse would not affect the people around him in his civilian life. The two people he sexually assaulted while in the army, Preston Davis and Billy J. Capshaw, are now friends and help survivors of military sexual assault.

About Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is an American limited biographical crime drama series co-created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, which premiered on Netflix on September 21, 2022. The series follows the murders of infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, portrayed by Evan Peters.