Gerald D. Klee passed away in his home in Maryland, according to a March 7 obituary offered by the Baltimore Sun.
The retired psychiatrist, who succumbed at age 86, took part in controversial experiments when he was a volunteer with the United States armed services. This happened in the 1950s, and included experimentation with LSD and other hallucinogens. Klee issued these drugs to members of the Army and other branches of the military.
In 1975, Klee admitted to such experiments as suggested by the University of Maryland's Psychiatric Institute. The physician administered LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, in order to take part in a program said to be dedicated to chemical weaponry.
However, Klee wasn't the only expert to take part in this unconventional research. In fact, Timothy Leary was another member of this tribe. The late doctor told The Baltimore Evening Sun as part of his admission to his involvement, "A large proportion of the people who have gotten involved in research in this area have been harebrained and irresponsible..."
He also added, "The interests of the University of Maryland group were purely scientific," saying that "the military was just there."
And so, as members of the military became involved in something that was not understood by its subjects, Gerald D. Klee also participated by trying LSD himself prior to administering to the drug to others.
Brooklyn-born Gerald D. Klee was a WWII veteran, serving in the Army. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1952. After that, he worked for a number of prominent universities in their psychiatric departments as well as conducting a private practice.
Klee was married four times and is survived by five children.
RIP Gerald D. Klee, RIP.
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