The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1943-06-26
TRUE FACTS
Continued from Page u

officers of the Training Center and
Post commands. The principal
complaint related to the inadeuuacy
of the Savannah bus line to ac-
commodate colored soldiers at the
rush hours and discrimination
against Negroes in the use of buses.
The failure to provide overnight
lodgings and meals at reasonable
prices in Savannah for colored
soldiers, as compared with facili-
ties OF this nature which are avail
able for white soldiers; abusive
language and unnecessary rough
Tess on the part of civilian police
and possibly the Military Police and
the State law having for its pur-
pose the checking of veneral dis
eases whereby women accompanied
by colored soldiers are frequently
arrested if they cannot produce
health certificates.
The War Department is very
much intereste din ways and means
OF remedying the situation at Camp
Stewart with regard to colored
complement. Before the recent
outbreak certain steps had been
taken to improve the situation. An
increased effort was being made
to obtain additional entertainment
and recreational facilities for col
ored troops when off the post. Pass
privileges were being staggered so
as to prevent overcrowding of
transportation facilities between
Camp Stewart and Savannah and
oVercrowding of the entertainment
and recreationa1 facilities in Sa-
vannah and adjacent towns. Col
cred military police are being en-
ployed at entrucking points in
greater numbers.
The situation at Camp Van Dorm
is more difficult Since the ar
rival of this particular unit at
Camp Van Dorm there have been
a series of incidents on the post
of disorderly nature On one oc-
pocioy - y,1,Y,o Ioo,. of w.. fro,.o Al.
organization visited Centerville and
marched around the town in for
nation, using indecent and profane
language. Civil police, aided by
number of deputized citizens arm
ed with shotguns, arrested this
group. Upon arrival of the mil
itary police officer, upon his or
ders. these men Immediately dis
persed and returned to camp.
As far as the information shows,
one soldier mot three as reported
by one newspaper was killed by
law enforcement officer outside
the post. He was Private William
Walker. According to the report
of the investigation, he was ac-
costed by military policeman be-
cause he was improperly uniform
ed and had no pass; that following
brief argument, Pvt Walker as
saulted the military police and was
attempting to take his pistol when
the county sheriff arrived upon the
scene. The sheriff reported that
upon his arrival the military po-
lice was on his back in a jeep with
Pvt. Miller on top of him. On see
ing the sheriff, Walker allegedly
jumped out Of the car and made
lunge for him and upon refus-
ing to halt when ordered to do
so, he was shot and killed by the
sheriff.
The company to which the SOL
der was assigned threatened to
break into the supply room for
rifles and ammunition. Colonel
John F. Goodman, the commanding
officer, ordered the firing pins re-
moved from all rifles and officer
guard placed over all supply rooms
in the regiment, however one COM
pany did storm a supply room and
obtain a number of rifles before
arrival of company officers. All
of the rifles except two have been
found.
A short time later a crowd of
several hundred members of this
unit assembled near the regimen
tai exchange. A colored riot squad
from the Military Police Detach-
ment of the camp was forced to
fire into this group in an attempt
to stand them off. Pvt. Raymond
johnson was wounded by this gum
fire. The timely arrival of Col.
Goodman and Captain Elmer P
Gibson, colored chaplain, was
perhaps the only thing thta pre-
vented serious bloodshed.
The offenders in this unit will be
disciplined; the better elements