St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-03-16
Probe of Seabee
Hunger Strike Is
Asked by NAACP


Port Hueneme. California
Thorough investigation by the
NAACP of the recent two-day
hunger strike, of 1000 Negro Sea-
bee members of the 34th Construc-
ton Battalion who protested dis
elimination in the awarding of |
Naval promotions, reveals a story
of violent racial antipathies, thwart-
ed ambitions and broken promises.
According to the report made by
Norman o. Houston of the Los
Angeles NAACP, who interviewed
81 members from the personnel of |
the 34th and 80th Construction Bat
talions at Camp Rousseau, a great |
gap exists between Negro and white
personnel; and a still greater gap
between the Negro personnel and
the officers. In describing the |
series of discriminatory situations
which led up to the strike, Mr..
Houston submits the following |
testimony as representative of |
unanimous sentiment of all but one
of the members interviewed in the
34th Battalion: "They had men of |
ability and leadership in the Ne
gro personnel of the unit. While |
overseas, Negro personnel made
possible the advancement of many
white first class petty officers to
chief petty officers, most Of whom
were transferred out Of the unit
upon return to the United States.
"Men stated that while they were
overseas they were promised that
as soon as they were qualified as to
technical skill and time in service
that they would be given appropri-
ate promotions. Later the promise
was changed until when they got
back to the States. Now that they
have been back in the States since
last October and expect an early
return to foreign service, no ap-
preciable change has been made
on the part of the commanding Of
ficer to give the advance ratings.
"Instead of providing training
courses and encouraging the up
rating of Negro personnel to first
class men and chief petty officers,
group of white petty officers, first
class, and chief petty officers were
brought into the Battalion for posi-
tons of leadership. These men aver
age inferior to the Negro person
mel, yet they will be given the OPP
portunities for advancement and be-
come their superiors once the Bat
talon is ready for overseas assign
ment or out of state assignment.
at is naval custom for chief
petty officers to have separate mess
and living quarters and all other
ratings to mess and live together,
but in this battalion they complain
that regardless of rank all white
men are put into separate mess
lines and are given separate and
the most preferred quarters, and
that while white petty officers are
lounging in their quarters Negroes
of comparable ratings are out do
ing the most mental kind of chores.
It was stated that while in camp
Negro personnel takes care of most
of camp duties whereas white per-
sonnet have little or no camp re-
sponsibilities."
Men Complain of Officers
Treatment
In pointing up the maneuvers and |
hatred existing between Command
ing Officer Mclean, a "Simon
Legree" Mississippian, his execu-
tive officer, 1t. Commander C. v. !
White, and the men under him in
the 34th b., Mr.. Houston stated, |
'The men accuse Battalion Com
mander Mclean, and his executive |
officer, 1t. Commander C. v.
White, of violent racial antipathies
as is expressed in their attitude that |
Negro has no rights that white
man is bound to respect. They also
complained that while they were
overseas he refused to allow them
to accept invitations from white
units to compete in athletic con-
tests; and that he took it on himself |
to go into )Oxnard and ask white
business places not to serve them;
and that at one time he caused to
be maintained separate heads for
his white and Negro personnel. The
Commander, in order to prove the
incompetence of Negro for leader
ship, picks the wrong man as ex-
amples of leadership and nothing is
being done to develop the Negro
leadership for higher ratings. The
Negro personnel made the white
chief petty officers, many of whom
lacked qualifications, yet were ad-
vanced on the work and reputation
of the men working under them.
"It was state that certain vital
records are hidden from Negro per-
sonnet in order that maneuvering
to elevate whites will not be known
prior to advancement"
Interviewees under the command
of 1t. Commander Ebersole, pro-
vided the only bright spot in the re-
port. According to them the C. o.
emphasizes the building of leader
ship and morale. They agreed
unanimously that "since change
in their white officers and chief
petty officers last June, conditions