Black Pilot’s Vindication

Thank you for the wonderful article about Roger C. (Bill) Terry (Oct. 20). We are glad that the charges and conviction against him as a young airman for entering a “whites only” officers club have at last been overturned.

The court-martial should never have been there in the first place. This is just another reminder of the callous and brutal discrimination meted out to minorities in the armed forces at that time and, to a degree, in subsequent years.

Bill Terry attended Willowbrook Junior High School and Compton High School in the same class as my older sister. She recalls that he was indeed well-liked and respected by the other students.

Obviously, he has made his positive contribution in society, but it is tragic that he was kept from following his dream of flying with the Tuskegee Airmen and later a career in law.

Eric Sevareid once said about World War II, “We fought for something that was eternally right and we won.”

Terry fought for something that is eternally right and has, after 50 years, won.

AL and SHIRLEY (OWENS) PORTER

Sunland

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Your article brings to mind the many indignities suffered by many African American servicemen called to serve this country.

The untold stories, and there are many, may never be told. They are too numerous. While serving with our occupation forces in the Far East prior to the Korean War, black servicemen were excluded from many NCO clubs near white units, especially if native women were guests. It was difficult for us to explain to Koreans why white soldiers were separated from black soldiers. Army officials downplayed this by suggesting that no backward nation such as Korea should question the policies of a democratic nation! But the final straw came when Gen. Douglas MacArthur issued a directive specifying that candidates for his honor guard unit would be “white only”; others need not apply.

Exigencies brought on by the Korean conflict, the recall of Gen. MacArthur and executive orders issued by President Harry Truman made dramatic changes in the outmoded racial policies of the military. Men such as Lt. Terry paved the way for the likes of Colin Powell. He paid a high price and should be commended for his courageous efforts over the past half-century. Perhaps this nation can learn something from the changes initiated by the military since World War II.

HARRISON J. CHASTANG

Los Angeles