15. Did Jack Kerouac Suffer from Schizophrenia or Did he Fake it?
Before he becomes one of the most prominent authors of his era, Kerouac served in the Navy. In 2005, details of his days in the Navy became public and his military records revealed a history of mental disorder. It seems like Kerouac was diagnosed with “dementia praecox” (an archaic term for schizophrenia), and for that reason, he was considered “unsuitable” for the American Navy. As a result, his enlistment was short, lasting only 10 months. Those who know Kerouac a little better through his books, claim that the famous author faked mental illness so he could be discharged from the Navy.
On one occasion he stripped naked and ran across the parade ground shouting “Geronimo.” Interestingly, the Navy did not deem Kerouac entirely schizophrenic but instead stated that he was unable to deal with military discipline. Kerouac then sailed on a few ships in the Merchant Marine, and of course, wrote some of the greatest American novels. Nonetheless, Kerouac was alcoholic and later in life showed signs of severe depression. His cause of death was listed as an internal hemorrhage caused by cirrhosis, the result of his self-destructive behavior and longtime alcohol abuse.