The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1941-08-23
Three Colored Named In Hamtramck Graft lndictmen
Letters

and une,entfui.
The pcpulace Of these states
greeted and cheered the boys. But
on entering Arkansas things
changed. =.
AZ our blou,ac In Camp Robinson,
Arkansas, near Little Rock. an
Army Post, the men were denied
entrance 10 the PIX "a store OPP
Grated under Army supervision Tor
soldlers). Upon Investigation by
sgt Major he WAS informed
that he could buy supplies. ETC., for
the 1915 men, hut a Post order
forbid them serving or catering TO
Negro orders. In order 10 enforce
this order the exchange WAS closed
about f,e hours earlier than usual.
This left the boys only one alterna.
tive, to visit the nelghborlng city
OF Little Rock. In Little Rock the
boys we're being abused by the
Municipal police. They arose In
resentment and when another sol.
der was treated harshIy by n PA.
trolmnn. they took matters In their
own hands and only the presence
Of lew cool-headed men (MCO's)
was race riot prevented.
The battalion moved out and was
stationed about one and one-hali
miles from Gurdon, ARK. We pitch
ed bi,ouac and In the evening the
boys were granted permission 10
visit Burden. In Gnrdon they en-.
conntcred trouble, first with civi.
lIans and later with M.P.'s from
southern units. Our officers were
aroused. went out and aided in pre-
venting actual physical combat. An
In, estigation was conducted and
Gurdon was declared "ofi limits
Arrangement were made for our
battalion 10 20 10 Prescott, Ark.
(Second Army Field Hdgts) for
recreation. The first night (Aug.
I5) was une,entful In town. but nj
the entrance 10 our bl,0unc area.
two carloads Of state troopers and
carload OF civilians (more than
likely ST. of duty and out Of uni.
FORM stopped and ordered n group
OF the men and the sentry carrying
rlile' with No ammunition. ms
agreed 10 with civil authorities)
and guard on the road very abu.
sie and degrading language used
-Nlgger-sons Of, etc). When
the men didn't run. the troopers
grabbed three and slapped them
and beat them with black Jacks. Re-
fore our officers could get t0 the
scene the troopers had disappear
ed. They continued 10 patrol the
area. hut with officers present they
never stopped. Our o.Icers kent n
constant vigil throughout the night,
sleeping In shifts. An investiga-
fion followed. hut did not prevent
recurrence Of the incident In
Prescott on the evening Of the 18th
The beatlngs In Prescott were nc.
companled by shooting. although
no one was shot. M.P.'s escorted
the trucks hack 10 our bivouac
area. Investigation still being
made but the hands Of our OIL
GERS who have also heen abused l.
called slammed Yankee North.
erners-Nlgger lovers. etc.) are
tied. The only recourse left them
has been to Investigate and report
to higher Headquarters. The OIL.
GERS mIngle with the boys and are
trying to prevent concerted move.
ments that might result IN reckIes.
mob violence and casualties among
MS. The unrest Is growing and fhs
cool.headed individuals and officer,
cannot cone with the situation wei
longer. We appeal to you. who mr.,
free. to act. 10 aid MS In this. Tho
true fight for democracy.
The Rev. j. n. Howell. pastor oI
NJ. stephens AME church, received
n letter from n draftee nj Camr
Robinson. Arkansas, which read,
In mart rs follows:
several days AFRO, we the mem
fers Of the 9th Engineers group
reached this state for war games
Since that time, the men have beer
beaten time and time again, ever
our white officers.
AT first. our camp was along IN,
highway, about seven miles west o
Gurton. Ark. The first night here
we placed n guard nj the mouth oI
the dirt road that led hack to oul
tents. As soon ~ night fell. stat,
troopers stopped and heat thu
guard. after learning that we wer,
from ~. Custer In Michigan. TIL,
happened Just rs regularly as IN,
guard was changed, night after
night.
"we asked our officers 10 give IN,
guards ammunition for the empt,
rifles they were carrying. The,
could not do 50. hecahse the onIy
shells they had for the rifles wer,
blank shells.
sour commander promised actor
against the state police. hut ever
he knew that n the case came nj
In civil court, nothing would h
done.
@Jast Wednesday night, MajOl
Harmon, our commanding officer
decided TO send n detachment q
about one hundred men and some
officers to Prescott, Ark. The stat'
pole" tralIed the trucks TO TN
town.
As n last resort, some 200 OF IN,
LOO boys took 10 the woods m,
started walking back 10 III. Custer
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