The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-16
THIRD AND FINAL OF A SERIES
BY HARRY McALPIN

WASHINGTON, DC. NNPA)-
The premium put on a white skin,
the disregard OF official orders. and
the general atmosphere created TO
make officers and men realize they
are, after all. just Negroes. have
had an unhealthy reaction on the
men who are flying and maintaining
the B-25s in the 477th Bombard-
ment Group stationed al Goldman
Field. KY. where this correspondent
spent four days in observation last
month.
One officer. a Negro captain. told
me: III this continues. this whole
thing is going 10 crack. Tensions
are going 10 grow. They are Just
about at the peak now This good
record which has been established
will be broken.
Some Of the men have said they
are not going 10 take any more stun
of certain officers They threat
ened 10 handle situations them
selves
Develops Neurotic Cases
i; vii develop a lot OF neuroilc
cases. Things are closing IN around
them in such a way tina; they have
no escape
1t Will bring disgrace on the
whole unit which will be played up
as showing that Negroes are in
competent
What ! fear most is that some
OF the flyers may crack UP in the
air II they become psycho-neurotic
| cases"
This was said to me on the night
Of August q On the very next
evening. this officer and two other
Negroes had 10 exert every bit OF
their persuasive powers and author
itv 10 prevent over 200 enlisted men
marching on the theatre at Fort
Knox. adjoining Goldman Field. in
protest 10 the absolute disregard
there Of the War Departments ord
or banning segregation and exclu-
SION OF Negroes from Army post
facilities. including PXs. theatres
and army operated buses.
PhosiatS ot affdavits made out by
enlisted men al Goldman Field. con-
corning the theatre incident and at
tempts 10 segregate them on buses
between Louisville and Goldman
Field. have been turned over 10 a
War Department official by this
correspondent
In one Of them a Negro corporal
affirms that he asked Capt Wilbur
{ Wilson. in charge OF the Fort
Knox theatre why Italian PAROLES
could s., where they wanted 10 and
We could not The captains answer
was That Will be enough out OF
Won" He gave the soldier a refund
ticket and sent him away.
Another officer. expressing an
opinion on the effect OF the existing
conditions al Goldman said: III con-
dltionS continue 10 exist as they
are. there will be crack ups soon
Men cannot continue 10 be exposed
~ humiliation and bias and then be
expected 10 work as a team IN the
air. II will end with a number
II them becoming psycho-neurotic
cases
He is flight medical officer.
He continued by saving; Proof
~ the low morale is the high ven
ereal disease rate among the men.
Medical authorities recognize the
/ fact that coniented men do not have
high venereal disease rates. Men
have come 10 me for venereal dis
ease treatment and said they don't
give damn. They are sorry they
have a venereal disease and that Is
all l."
Col Robert Selway. the group
commander. does not agree. how
( ever. that the high VD rates is in
/ dicative " discomfort on the part
/ " the men. He said IL simply
means infected people are being al
/ lowed 10 get 10 them. Women get
IN here and we don't know anything
about H." he declared He said there
is no checking OF passes for civilians
on the buses pulling into Fort
Knox. the bus station. and there is
no fence between Knox and God
man
The colonies method of combat
ing the high ND rates was To issue
memorandum on August 4 ad-
dressed 10 the commanding officer
of the squadrons the executive Of
ficers. the provost marshal, the base