A native of Northeast Minneapolis, Ken Sholes enlisted in the Navy at the age of 20 to avoid being drafted and sent to Vietnam. Despite this enlistment, he ultimately ended up in Vietnam, serving for a little under a year as a cook at the NSA Hospital in Da Nang.

A month before his service was up; he disclosed to a fellow sailor that he was gay, at which time he was discharged. His experience led him to become an activist and lobby the U.S. Congress to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Ken volunteers for Quatrefoil Library, a member-supported, non-profit 501 library for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

A deep love of history and theater has inspired Ken to take the stage and share his story.

Nearly 50 years after the Vietnam War began, many vets of the era are dying – and many more will – underscoring a critical need to document their experiences and acknowledge their sacrifices.

The Telling Project is a national performing arts non-profit that uses theater as a tool to deepen civilian understanding of the military experience. The resulting performances give veterans a platform to tell their stories and give audiences an opportunity to listen.

For the first time, The Telling Project brings together a group of veterans from a single war – Vietnam.

Through a series of candid and emotional interviews, founder Jonathan Wei and director Max Rayneard identify a cast, craft the unique memories into a script, and empower the veterans to perform on stage. Follow five Vietnam War veterans and family members on a journey as they shape their experiences into a powerful culminating stage performance.

Watch a preview of Minnesota Remembers Vietnam: The Telling Project:

Visit the show page