The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-11-27
STIFF PENALTY
OvERRULED BY
ALA. COMMAND

MORGANTOWN,W w. Va.-(ANP)
Hiding its actions under the con-
venient cloak of military code,
regulations and tradition" a court
martial last week located a white
aviation student at the u. S. Army
prefight training center located at
West Virginia university to be de-
prived OF one months pay. The
reason-the flying cadet danced
with a "colored girl in view of
those present" while attending a
dance in the Morgan hotel ballroom.
Capt. Walter c. Troutman COM
mander Of the 48th College Training
detachment. who ordered the court
martial and penalty. however. has
been overruled by the Eastern Fly
ing command at Maxwell field.
Montgomery. Ala, and the sentence
ordered vacated.
News of the incident which &C.
Cured Nov. 5. has been closely
guarded by military censors. al
though personnel al the encamp-
ment knew of the affair. So well
was the story guarded that this
mining community and even univer-
sity officials were ignorant Of the
development.
Discredit on Service
Pvt. Herman p Suffer. Is, Of
Louisville, was accused OF "willfully
and wrongfully to the prejudice If
good order and military DISCIPLINE
conducting himself lin a manner 10
bring discredit upon the military
service by dancing with a colored
girl" in public. The incident alleg-
eddy occurred at the hostelery
where a dance was being held
Suffer is said TO have invited the
girl. Miss Dorothy Johnson. an en-
ploye OF the hotel, to dance with
him. When Miss Johnson accepted,
the two took turn around the
floor.
Suffer. who completed his five
months training last week along
with 60 other cadets OF the 300 sta
toned here. has been transferred TO
Nashville for assignment elsewhere.
Capt. Troutnan. former football
player al the University OF Georgia.
admitted the case was improperly
handled by him. The only issue
with me-" he said. was Pvt. Suffers
action in bringing an unlimited per-
son who was improperly dressed 10
the party. But the whole case is
now closed and there's no sentence
against the boy" The commander
added he would have acted similarly
had the girl been white.
Punishment Publicixed
After Suffers court martial a bull
letin was posted on the dormitory
wall informing other soldiers OF the
punishment melted out TO the pri-
va,e. The announcement read: Il
A summary court martial duly ap-
pointed by Par. l, 50-7S this head
quarters. dated Z November ls43,
met this date 10 review the follow
ing case and submits the following
review Of the trial: ~ '-
al In that Pvt. (A-S) Herman T.
Suffer. ASH S5lO67sl. did, in Nor
gan;own. w Va, on or about No
vember l943. while attending a
dance at the Morgan hotel ballroom.
willtully and wrongfully TO the pre-
JUDGE Of good order and military
discipline conduct himself in a man
ner TO bring discredit upon the milf
tary service by dancing with a
colored girl in view OF those pres
ent.
81 Punishment awarded in the
case OF the above named aviation
student is to have two-thirds OF his
pay deducted for a, period not 10
exceed one month.
Record Impaired
-. The information as listed
above in the results Of this trial
will be recorded on the service rec
u,,ll