The Phoenix index., 1940-12-21
Birmingham Youth
(Continued from Page -


sent to Goat Island for sixteen days
further Imprisonment. it was
stated.
When the marine captain went
over to San Francisco for brig
in which to place the prisoners, he
repeatedly told the warden that
they were ''tough customers" The
warden is then said to have in
directly advised the boys to attempt
to escape, knowing they would be
shot in any such attempt. A marine
is charged $1.o5 for shooting in any
such instance, a dollar for the act
and nickel for the bullet, it was
stated.
Incoming mail of the prisoners
was censored and they were "ad-
viseE what to write to the out
side world.
LOCKED UP AGAIN
On November %, the youths were
released and sent to the recruiting
stations nearest their homes and
places of enlistment. Three days
later, travelling without guard,
Goodwin said he arrived at Norfolk
recruiting station where with 9TH
ers he was locked up for another
seven days.
Upon discharge, Goodwin. who had
advanced from third class to first
class mess attendant, maintaining
an average 3.35 rating of possible
40 was given a warning never to
join the Navy again. The printed
warning read:
WARMING
"You are being discharged from
u. S. Naval Service and you are
i, NOT recommended for re-enlist-
ment.
"For you to reenlist in any branch
of the service would be fraud
which will he detected by your
fingerprints and which will subject
you to imprisonment, forfeiture of
pay and dishonorabIe discharge"
The warming was signed by S. H
Gambrill, recruiting station COM
mander.
Upon Goodwin's discharge was
written undesirable" for unfit
ness" He was given transportation
to Birmingham, shirt and cap
and his savings. Goodwin said it
was the custom that discharged
men be given money for complete
outfit, including a suit and overcoat,
but that he failed to get his.
Dismissed from service aboard the
Philadelphia along with Goodwin
,pere First-Class Mess Attendants
Byron Cecil johnson and Jesse
Willard Watford; second-class mess
avLenoant l.. hansbrough; third
class attendants Floyd Owens,
Ernest Bosley, j. E. Ponder, j. w.
Ponder. Robert Turner, Arnah
Perry Cooper, G. E. Rice, o. H.
Robinson, j. H. Porter and Floyd
st. Clair. None stood trial as is
the usual case in such action.
DISAPPOINTED WITH NAVY
Goodwin said he was disappoint-
ed with the Navy, which upon his
being recruited Offered" opportunity
for service, education and advance
ment. He said the life of mess
attendant was not one to be class
ed as enjoyable"
According to Goodwin, mess at
tendants get up at $50 in the
morning and have to work, off and
on but never really off, to as much
as $50 at night. A half-hour is
given to tidying, after which the
attendants shine three or four
pairs of officers shoes, clean UP
their rooms, gather up their laund-
ry. sometimes wash part OF it and
then they may eat. In the mess
room they must serve the officers
and satisfy their various desires.
They must serve three meals OF
about two and one-half hours dura-
ton each during the day. Between
meals and the tidying of the rooms
the mess attendants. having no
place to go aboard ship, must keen
moving and appearing to be doing
something or they can be reported
is nervewracking and while the
for being the wrong places at the
wrong time. The latter repeatedly
crew works from eight to four daily
the mess attendants must work that
time and much more.
Black-face minstrel shows aboard
ship ridicule the Negro race, chap
lains talk of "n-rs" and South
ern-born officers of low rating
want Negroes to salute them even