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OCTOBER 23, 2008
WIDOW OF WRONGLY-CONVICTED WORLD WAR II VETERAN TO RECEIVE $28,305
By Martin Comas
Orlando Sentinel staff writer
ORLANDO - The widow of a World War II veteran, who spent almost a year in a military brig six decades ago after being wrongly convicted, will be handed a check for $28,305 today at U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson‘s office.
Samuel Snow of Leesburg was among 28 black soldiers falsely convicted of starting a riot during World War II that led to the lynching of an Italian prisoner of war at an Army base in Seattle. Snow, a teenager at the time, served almost 12 months in a military prison and then was dishonorably discharged from the Army.
Snow died last July at age 83 only hours after receiving an honorable discharge and an Army apology during a ceremony in Seattle. Snow always said that he had nothing to do with the riot in August 1944.
Last year, the Army overturned Snow’s conviction and he was sent a check for $725. But the amount was not adjusted for inflation. That led Nelson to take up Snow’s cause and pressure the Army to include the interest.
Last January, Nelson joined U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, to place legislation in a military appropriations bill that awards back pay plus interest to veterans who have had their convictions overturned. President Bush signed the bill Tuesday, paving the way for Snow’s family to receive today’s check.
The $28,305 is the $725 compounded over 60 years at 6 percent interest.
OCTOBER 24, 2008
ORLANDO - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on Thursday handed a $27,580 check to the widow of a World War II veteran who spent almost a year in a military prison in the 1940s after being wrongly convicted of starting a riot. “His whole lifetime of opportunity as an American was taken away from him,” said Nelson, D-Fla., referring to Samuel Snow of Leesburg. “This [check] is the least his government could do for him.” Snow was among 28 black soldiers falsely convicted of starting a riot at an Army base in Seattle that led to the lynching of an Italian prisoner of war. Snow, a teenager at the time, served almost a year in a military brig and was dishonorably discharged. He died in July.