The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
Heroes

carried ammunition across the
airfieId under fire. They fought,
too. 10 bolster the dwindlinE
ranks OF the heroic Marines,
though they had not been
trained for such action.
The nrst Marine division was
given a presidential citation. their
casualties being unusually heavy
and their victory a costly one.
But the seventeenth have heard
no praises ringing in their ears.
They have received no citations,
no rest. The men are growing
sour because Of these conditions.
Twenty-Five months ago. on
Dec. l6. l943, these men began
their overseas service. They
served four months on the island
OF Banika: Ave months. the is
Land Of Emerau in the Bismarck
Archipelago. After helping take
and secure the Island Of. Peleliu,
they served Ave months there I'M
loading ships. storing supplies.
then half OF the organization was
moved to the Island Of Guam and
the other half was sent TO the
Philippines.
This second group is stationed
in Leyte Gulf. They are still do
ing stevedoring work. Their sched-
ule calls for round-the- clock serv-
ice. which they do without shirk-
ing. Their duty Is performed
ashore and on the ships that dock
in the spacious harbor of San Pc
dro Bay. But they live on
houseboat called by the navy an
APL (Auxiliary Personnel Lodg-
ing).
For eight months these men
have lived on an APL Twice a
week. sometimes only once, they
are given liberty" TO 20 ashore
for recreation. The rest of their
time off from work is spent In the
sardine-can crowdedness OF an
engineless ship. parts OF which,
even. have been declared out of
bounds TO them.
They had completed their 10
months OF overseas duty long be-
fore the war ended. But they
were not accorded the rotation
privilege and sent home.
Besides this. they feel they are
the victims Of racial discrimina-
tons. Their quarters on the boat
are below deck where the genera
tors hum and add to the sitting
heat. Over 400 of them live I'M
der these conditions, while top
side is reserved for headquarters
and ships companies, which are
predominstely white. The few COL
ored men who are members Of
the headquarters company are.
nevertheless. housed below deck
with the rest Of the Negroes. For
all Negroes. except those who
service the officers quarters, top
side Is out of bounds"
Most Seabee outfits. according
TO Mr.. Granger. who has made
several tours Of naval installations,
contain both Negro and white
personnel. This would seem to
make them racially mixed units.
Actually. he points out. all white
personnel have been assigned to
headquarters and ships companies
which include the white collar"
and skilled duty assignments. The
remaining companies in the unit,
which are responsible for the
stevedore work. are composed of
Negro personnel.
With this pattern established"
said Mr.. Granger. "the way Is
open for Pill racially different sit
uations tt be construed as racial
discrimination by Negro person.
mel"
1t. r. F. Caffey. officer in
charge OF the 18th Seabees. told
this correspondent that there have
been no orders for such separa-
ton and segregation and that il is
voluntary on the part of the whites.
But the men are convinced in their
minds that here is another evidence
OF racial segregation.
Another Of their complaints Is
that in the eight months on this
floating hotel they have had no
CHdpldlH' NO provision OdS Deen
made for this purpose.
One bright spot has been the
presence OF a lone Negro officer,
ENSIGN ]. B. Williams, Of Annapo-
lis. Md.
Ems Williams has been with the
men for nine months He has spent
the entire period with them since
thew have been marooned on an
APL in the middle Of Leyte Gulf.
But eight months OF such life, %
months overseas without rotation
or rest and racial determinations.
are dulling the edge on the whole
some effects Of Williams presence
and rank.
Today. these 400-odd men want
only one thing-to come home.
Their immediate commanding Of
ficers agree they deserve such con-
sideration and because Of their
exemplary record, it is believed
that Mr.. Granger will discuss their
Might with naval officials