Margarethe Cammermeyer

In the fourth episode of 200 Norwegians, we share the remarkable story of Margarethe Cammermeyer — the colonel who took on the U.S. military after being discharged for being a lesbian.

Cammermeyer's life reads like a Forrest Gump-style journey through modern history. Born in Nazi-occupied Norway to parents active in the resistance, she went on to serve in the Vietnam War, became a top-ranking officer in the National Guard, and found herself at the center of a national controversy in the 1990s.

Her legal battle led to a landmark court victory — and even inspired a made-for-TV movie starring Glenn Close. Along the way, she’s crossed paths with figures like Barbra Streisand and several U.S. presidents.

In this episode, we dig into it all.