Gay veteran’s widower fights for benefits in historic appeal

Lawrence Vilord, left, with his now-deceased husband, Navy veteran Rhett Chalk. (Photo: Courtesy Lawrence Vilord)

Navy veteran Rhett Chalk was rendered quadriplegic on Thanksgiving Day in 2003 after his knee — which he severely impaired while serving in Vietnam — gave out, causing him to suffer a life-changing spinal injury.

At the time, Chalk had been with his…