World War II veteran dies hours after Army apology

[flashl]

Source: LA Times

Samuel Snow fell ill before the ceremony clearing him and 27 other black soldiers of a 1944 conviction.


LA Times
By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 28, 2008

SEATTLE -- Samuel Snow, an 83-year-old black World War II veteran who had traveled across the country to receive an apology from the Army for being unfairly convicted on rioting charges, died early Sunday just hours after the ceremony honoring him and 27 of his fellow soldiers.

Snow had been admitted to a hospital on the eve of Saturday's ceremony at Ft. Lawton in Seattle. He died hours later -- after his son had read to him the certificate that exonerated him and converted his discharge to an honorable status.

"He had talked incessantly about how important this weekend was going to be, and while I'm tremendously sad -- more than you know -- that this man is no longer with us, I do have the sense that he had a tremendous amount of fulfillment," said Jack Hamann, who in his book "On American Soil" exposed serious flaws in the 1944 prosecution of 28 black soldiers on rioting charges during a night of violence that left an Italian prisoner of war dead.

The only other surviving veteran associated with the incident could not make the trip from Chicago for the ceremony. Family members, on behalf of the "Ft. Lawton 28," received certificates and a formal apology from the Army in a tearful but celebratory ceremony that capped three days of commemorative events, some of which Snow had attended.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-apology28-2008jul28,0,307169.story

[wellst0nev0ter]

1. This Gives A Whole New Meaning Of "Too Little, Too Late"

I wonder how that dishonorable discharge has affected Mr. Snow's life adversely, on top of the racism that existed during that time? A lot more than an apology should be in store for his family.

[flashl]

2. My sentiments exactly, and, that goes for the other rash of apologizes, as well.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Since the dishonorable discharge terminated his military career,

they should pay his family compensation for what he would have earned had he served a full 20 years to retirement, with 1 paygrade increase every three years. Plus interest.

Only seems fair.

[Trillo]

4. I read in another thread

that there are a number of Master's degree holding black people that have worked at minimum wage jobs their whole lives.

Perhaps something like this ends up returning the minimum from society, and that may at times be less than minimum wage, such as when unemployed and not eligible for insurance.

I'd guess this person's "compulsory education" never paid 'em back for their wasted time.