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Feedback/Return Fire<br />
60<br />
This section of The Graybeards is designed to provide feedback—and generate more feedback. It gives readers the opportunity to respond<br />
to pr<strong>in</strong>ted stories, letters, po<strong>in</strong>ts of view, etc., without hav<strong>in</strong>g to write long-w<strong>in</strong>ded replies. Feel free to respond to whatever you see <strong>in</strong> the<br />
magaz<strong>in</strong>e. As long as it’s tasteful and non-political, we will be happy to <strong>in</strong>clude it. If you want to submit ideas, criticisms, etc. that you prefer<br />
not to see <strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>t— with your name attached to it—then we will honor that. Make sure to let us know, though.<br />
Mail your “Return Fire” to the “Feedback Editor” at 152 Sky View Drive, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2859. E-mail it to:<br />
sharp_arthur_g@sbcglobal.net, or phone it <strong>in</strong> to (860) 563-6149. Whatever the medium you choose, we welcome your <strong>in</strong>put.<br />
More feedback on African-Americans <strong>in</strong> Korea<br />
(See Jan/Feb 2009, p. 65 & March/April 2009, p. 60)<br />
I volunteered for service <strong>in</strong> August 1950. I jo<strong>in</strong>ed the Army.<br />
In late December or early January 1951 I was already <strong>in</strong> Korea.<br />
The company I was <strong>in</strong> was all Black. We had one Black lieutenant.<br />
All other officers were white.<br />
I was vaguely familiar with President Truman’s [1948] order to<br />
<strong>in</strong>tegrate services. (See the copy nearby.) We received two White<br />
soldiers <strong>in</strong> December 1951.<br />
I was first hit by small arms fire <strong>in</strong> March 1951, and hospitalized<br />
<strong>in</strong> Japan. Back <strong>in</strong> Korea, I was struck by artillery fire <strong>in</strong><br />
September 1951. I received my Oak Leaf Cluster at that time.<br />
I left Korea <strong>in</strong> January 1952.<br />
Lionel J. Bowsky,<br />
P. O. Box 209166,<br />
Chicago, IL 60629<br />
I would like to clear up this question<br />
The 3rd Bn. 9th RCT started to form <strong>in</strong> February 1948 at Ft.<br />
Lewis, WA. I had re-enlisted after one year out of the Navy, and<br />
was one of the first Black soldiers to report to the regiment.<br />
I Co. was the first company formed. HQS Co. was the next to<br />
be formed. When HQS Co. was formed, I was transferred from I<br />
Co. to HQS Co.<br />
The 3rd Bn. 9th RCT consisted of HQS, I, K, L, and M<br />
Companies—all Black. We were shipped out of Olympia, WA <strong>in</strong><br />
July 1950, and landed <strong>in</strong> Pusan on 1 August 1950.<br />
We rema<strong>in</strong>ed an all-Black battalion until the Kun-ri trap, which<br />
was on 30 Nov. 1950.<br />
William McGee, USA (Ret),<br />
2941 N. Governeour #115,<br />
Wichita, KS 67226<br />
There were no African-Americans <strong>in</strong> the 23rd<br />
Regt. at the time<br />
A letter from Michael Czuboka <strong>in</strong> the March-April Graybeards<br />
stated that 68 African-American soldiers from the 23rd Infantry<br />
Regiment were killed by the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese on Feb. 14, 1951. I was<br />
assigned to “K” Co 23rd Reg., 2nd Infantry Division from August,<br />
1950 until July, 1951. To my recollection, there were no African-<br />
American soldiers <strong>in</strong> the 23rd Regiment dur<strong>in</strong>g that time.<br />
The 23rd Regiment and the French battalion were encircled by<br />
the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese at Chipyong-ni on Feb. 12, 1951. We were rescued by<br />
“L” Co, 5th Cavalry of the 1st Cavalry Division about 8 days later.<br />
The bodies Mr. Czuboka saw were most likely members of “E”<br />
EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981<br />
Establish<strong>in</strong>g the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and<br />
Opportunity In the Armed Forces.<br />
WHEREAS it is essential that there be ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the armed services of<br />
the United States the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment<br />
and opportunity for all those who serve <strong>in</strong> our country’s defense:<br />
NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested <strong>in</strong> me as President of the<br />
United States, by the Constitution and the statutes of the United States, and<br />
as Commander <strong>in</strong> Chief of the armed services, it is hereby ordered as follows:<br />
1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be<br />
equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons <strong>in</strong> the armed services<br />
without regard to race, color, religion or national orig<strong>in</strong>. This policy shall be<br />
put <strong>in</strong>to effect as rapidly as possible, hav<strong>in</strong>g due regard to the time required<br />
to effectuate any necessary changes without impair<strong>in</strong>g efficiency or morale.<br />
2. There shall be created <strong>in</strong> the National Military Establishment an advisory<br />
committee to be known as the President’s Committee on Equality of<br />
Treatment and Opportunity <strong>in</strong> the Armed Services, which shall be composed<br />
of seven members to be designated by the President.<br />
3. The Committee is authorized on behalf of the President to exam<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the rules, procedures and practices of the Armed Services <strong>in</strong> order to determ<strong>in</strong>e<br />
<strong>in</strong> what respect such rules, procedures and practices may be altered<br />
or improved with a view to carry<strong>in</strong>g out the policy of this order. The<br />
Committee shall confer and advise the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary<br />
of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force,<br />
and shall make such recommendations to the President and to said<br />
Secretaries as <strong>in</strong> the judgment of the Committee will effectuate the policy<br />
hereof.<br />
4. All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government are<br />
authorized and directed to cooperate with the Committee <strong>in</strong> its work, and to<br />
furnish the Committee such <strong>in</strong>formation or the services of such persons as<br />
the Committee may require <strong>in</strong> the performance of its duties.<br />
5. When requested by the Committee to do so, persons <strong>in</strong> the armed services<br />
or <strong>in</strong> any of the executive departments and agencies of the Federal<br />
Government shall testify before the Committee and shall make available for<br />
use of the Committee such documents and other <strong>in</strong>formation as the<br />
Committee may require.<br />
6. The Committee shall cont<strong>in</strong>ue to exist until such time as the President<br />
shall term<strong>in</strong>ate its existence by Executive order.<br />
Harry Truman<br />
The White House<br />
July 26, 1948<br />
May – June 2009<br />
The Graybeards