Evening star., 1941-03-29
Hotel Says Soldier
Was Denied Service
By Lack Of Table
But Sergeant Charges
Management Declared
Uniform Was Reason

Charges by sergeant attached
10 the 10Th Division at Fort George
C. Meade, Md, that the manage
ment of a Washington hotel had re-
fused TO serve him and a woman
companion because ne was in uni
form were denied today by the
hotel manager, who said an investi-
cation showed the soldier was not
served at the hotel night club be-
cause there were no unreserved ia
hleS available.
The manager said his inquiry
further revealed that the sergeant
conduct was "ungentlemanly" when
he was informed of the manage
ment's inability 10 serve him due
to crowded conditions at the club.
The sergeantS charges were con-
tanned in a formal statement which
reached the Office of Maj. Gen. Mil
ton A. Reckord. division commander,
Yesterday. Gen. Reckord said today
he planned to go the limit" with
his investigation of the incident, and
declared that if the hotel refused
TO serve the sergeant and his COM
panion because he was in uniform,
the action should be considered "an
insult 10 the uniform of the United
States"
Says Order Was Taken.
Il am not going 10 put up with
any such treatment when our men
are behaving themselves" he added.
In his statement the sergeant said
that he and his companion went .
10 the hotel dining room Saturday
night and proceeded TO order dinner
The order was taken" he said, |
land shortly afterward the manager |
came over and informed me in the |
presence of the young lady that it |
was house rule in that particular !
establishment not to serve soldiers |
IN uniform the did not distinguish
between officers and enlisted mem |
and requested us to leave.
I'VE had neither been drinking
alcoholic beverages, nor had we
ordered any in that place and we
had conducted ourselves, as usual,
in a manner becoming a lady and +.
@ gentleman y
The sergeant said further in his .
statement: 1T is with a great deal
of pride that ! wear the uniform of
non commissioned officer of the
Army of the United States. and l
think that discrimination of this
kind is in very poor taste in these
times, when thousands of young
men from some of the finest families
in the country are proud to don the
uniform of soldier and answer the |
call of their Government TO assist in !
the great defense program"
The hotel manager said the couple |
visited the night club about 10 |
o'clock Saturday night, the busiest |
time of that particular evening and |
at time when the club was
jammed."
Says Table Was Reserved.
There was only one empty table"
he continued, relating the result OF
his investigation, and 1t was a
table for four near the entrance
and had been marked with re-
served card by the head waiter. En-
ployes of the club told me the soldier
entered without checking his cap
and proceeded TO the table with his
companion.
Our walters have orders not TO
serve any one who goes to a table
without being escorted by the head
waiter and to stand by until the
head waiter greets the guests and
gives his approval to the waiter OF
the seating.
According to the head waiter,
the sergeant, shortly after he had
taken a seat, began to rap on the
table and demand service. The head
waiter then hurried TO the table and
Informed the visitors that the table
was reserved and there were no
others available. Whereupon, the
sergeant told the head waiter that
If it weren't for his military uni
form he would invite the employe
The sergeant and his companion
ipft few minutes later, was told
by various employees with whom I
talked of the incident, stating to
the head waiter, You just don't
want 10 serve us fellows because we
have on a uniform
The manager said the club Ger
talnly does not bar men in uniform.
whether they are privates or colo
nels" and that the club gladly
would have served the soldier if
facilities had been available