The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-29
Keerner
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notified by his draft board that he
had been reclaSSified and placed in
IA, Notwithstanding the fact that
he is married and the father OF
three children. He appealed the case
and in a hearing in Lansing. he was
placed IN IA after he had informed
the appeal board that he had filed
application FOR commission in the
navy.
But this was not for long, as he
was again placed in la and sent
induction papers for April Z. He
appealed again and this time was
given a 30-day extension by the APP
zeal board.
Petitions President
Prior 10 the hearing in Lansing,
DR.. Keemer pe,iuoned President
Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt and Sec
rotary OF Navy Knox 10 intercede
in the case. He failed 70 receive
reply from any Of the letters.
AZ the expiration Of the 3O-day
extension. the draft board sent him
another letter, telling him 10 report
May IL for induction. II was this
letter that caused DR.. Keemcr 10
send the reply IN which he stated
that he would not report.
Before writing the. letter DR.
Keemer made a trip TO Chicago in
reply 10 a letter from the navy in
which he was told that there was
an error in his application, and this
according to the letter. had caused
the delay in answering his many
letters.
DR.. Keemer flew 10 Chicago three
weeks ago 10 correct the error, but
on presenting himself at the navy
office, was told by the lieutenant
that the navy has never had any
colored physicians. didn't expect to
ever have any, and didn't want any
The lieutenant started 10 tear up
the Ale, but was prevailed upon by
DR.. Keemer to save it for future
use, or until the policy OF the navy
changed.
Another trip was made TO Lam
sing, but the physician was unable ,
to obtain any relief from the APP
peal board. II was then. he said,
that he made up his mind TO disre-
gard the letter from the draft board
TO report for induction May Is.
Il have no objection 10 serving
my country" said Or. Keemer but
/ do object to the racial discrimina-
ton practiced by the navy"
The physician then pointed cut
that those colo ed physicians who
have volunteered under the Pro-
curement and Assignment, n re OF
them have been commissioned in
the reserve, altho;.g h the law says
all who have passed the require
ments will receive commissions
within a week"
The Reconsideration by the draft
board and subsequent efforts to in
duct me as a private in the army is
just slap at me for continuing my
fight to exercise my constitutional
rights as citizen Of the United
States" DR.. Keenner said. "If ! had
agreed to withdraw my application
for a commission in the navy and
accepted the commission in the
army, l would not have been both
cred. / probably would be here for
the duration"
In the meantime the local branch
Of the N.AA.C.P., the Citizens Com
mittee, the Detroit Branch o. the
Negro Congress and the Socialist
Party have written letters of pro-
test to President Roosevelt and Sec
rotary OF the Navy Knox.
DR.. Keemer was born in Wash
ington, d. c., 80 years ago. After
finishing the elementary grades in
his hometown, he entered Pearl
high school in Nashville, Tenn. He
enrolled at Fisk university. but
completed his college work at In
diana university m 1882, and then
matriculated at Meharry Medical
college. graduating in 1896 He
interned at Freedman hospital,
Washington D. c. He married in
1888 and his wife, DR.. Beatrice
Keemer, is a practicing physician
here. They came to Detroit four
years ago.N