Recently in Military Category

Here is an excerpt of a copy of a discrimination complaint letter that I received from a person who says he is an African-American U.S. Army pilot. In the letter, he alleges racial discrimination in the Army, particularly in the Aviation unit. I returned an email back to the Army address on the letter, and received a response, so I will assume it is a genuine complaint from the person who replied listed in the file.

Read the letters addressed to Senator McCain, Senator Hillary Clinton, and the President(which does not have the President’s name on it). It is just addressed as the “President.” I do not know what to tell bruh, on an individual basis alone, it is hard to take on any large entity, let alone the U.S. government. This subject matter doesn’t get the media excited unless a powerful name is somehow entangled in these allegations. This sounds like stories 60 Minutes used to cover.

And I guess I am naive when it comes to the military, because I have most often heard, color does not matter much in the military, especially when you are out there on the battlefield. All for one, one for all, however, I have never served in the U.S. Armed Services, therefore, I don't have first hand experience.

The link to the letters is above the image. I have to ponder on this one and will add more comments later. Anyone care to comment?

This week and in fact, every week is a time to reflect on all of those who have bravely served and continue to serve this country in the Armed Services. Some have given their lives, arms, legs, face (due to burns from explosions) health, sanity, family, time, forgone other careers or opportunities, and have made countless other sacrifices.

If you know a Veteran or someone in active or reserved duty or someone who has passed, it would be nice to take the time to say "Thank You." To all of you fine men and women a simple, but heartfelt sincere: Thank You

Pvt. Samuel Snow'a 1944 booking photograph and today at 83 in his home in Leesburg, Fla.
Photo Credit: National Archives, left, and Chris Livingston/The New York Times

The New York Times reports:

"SEATTLE, Oct. 26 — Guglielmo Olivotto, an Italian prisoner of war, died with a noose around his neck, lynched at a military post on Puget Sound 63 years ago. Samuel Snow, 83, hopes that people will stop blaming him and the 27 other black soldiers convicted of starting the riot that led to Mr. Olivotto’s death. It was one of the largest Army courts-martial of World War II.

This week, a review board issued a ruling that could lead to overturning the convictions of all 28 soldiers, granting honorable discharges and providing them with back pay.

The board found that the court-martial was flawed, that the defense was unjustly rushed and that the prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, a young lieutenant colonel who went on to fame three decades later as a Watergate special prosecutor, had important evidence that he did not share with defense lawyers." READ MORE...

The Sunday Boston Globe reports:
"WASHINGTON - African-Americans, whose longstanding relationship with the US military helped them prove their abilities and offered a way to get ahead, have turned away from the armed forces in record numbers since 2000, a period covering the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the start of the Iraq war.

Defense Department statistics show the number of young black enlistees has fallen by more than 58 percent since fiscal year 2000. The Army in particular has been hit hard: In fiscal year 2000, according to the Pentagon statistics, more than 42,000 black men and women applied to enlist; in fiscal year 2005, the most recent for which a racial breakdown is available, just over 17,000 signed up.

The unpopular Iraq war is the biggest reason, according to military analysts, Pentagon surveys, and interviews with young African-Americans. But they say mistrust of the Bush administration is adding to the problem - along with the notion that black soldiers are being steered to combat jobs, a lingering perception from the Vietnam War.

The decline in enlistment applications among blacks is by far the fastest of any demographic group. Between fiscal 2000 and 2005, white applicants declined by more than 10 percent. Hispanic applicants dropped by almost 7 percent." READ MORE...

Reference: Boston Globe