A sad follow up to the story of the Army finally apologizing for the injustice done at Fort Lawton in Seattle during WW II. Samule Snow, one of the 28 black soldiers found guilty in the riot and death of an Italian prisoner, died within a few hours of the apology.
He refused to cash the check sent him last fall to cover back wages, but was very happy to receive the apology. The total compensation offered by the Army was $725. Snow believed it should be based on interest and inflation. His son, Ray, said the family would probably just frame the check.
Only a few of the other 27 families has submitted claims. The man whose book on the event brought about the review, Jack Hamann, said the Army wasn't making any effort at finding the families.
There is now only one-known survivor of the incident, Roy Montgomery, 87.
A Sad Chapter in US History, But One That Needs to Be Faced. --Old Coot
Showing posts with label Fort Lawton Riot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Lawton Riot. Show all posts
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Army Finally Apologizes for Injustice Done in WW II
On July 29th, KOMO TV announced that the US Army had issued a formal apology to 28 black soldiers who were court martialed at Fort Lawton after a riot on August 14, 1944, due to resentment of favorable treatment to Italian pows. The black soldiers felt that they were not treated as well as the prisoners. One Italian pow was killed in the melee.
The apology took place at Seattle's Discovery Park which was the site of Fort Lawton. A total of 43 black soldiers were court-martialed and 28 found guilty and sentenced to as many as 25 years in prison. Three were convicted of manslaughter.
A recent probe, sparked by the publication of a book on the incident found them not guilty. However, only two of the 28 are still alive and family members of the others accepted the apology.
It would seem to be very wrong that Italian prisoners, because they were white, would receive better treatment than black US soldiers, but those were the times. Glad things have improved.
It Was ABOUT Time. --Cooter
The apology took place at Seattle's Discovery Park which was the site of Fort Lawton. A total of 43 black soldiers were court-martialed and 28 found guilty and sentenced to as many as 25 years in prison. Three were convicted of manslaughter.
A recent probe, sparked by the publication of a book on the incident found them not guilty. However, only two of the 28 are still alive and family members of the others accepted the apology.
It would seem to be very wrong that Italian prisoners, because they were white, would receive better treatment than black US soldiers, but those were the times. Glad things have improved.
It Was ABOUT Time. --Cooter
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