FEBRUARY 19, 2008

SEATTLE— Members of two long-running book clubs—one whose members are white, another whose members are African-American—are asking book clubs across the nation to help locate families of the Fort Lawton defendants.

“We’re thinking of a grassroots national book club movement with the goal of finding the families,” says Lorie Harris.

“Our target,” says Jackie Roberts, “is to make it possible for the military to formally apologize to all the families and restore benefits. We also look forward to a public recognition and healing ceremony at the former Fort Lawton.”

Harris’ book club has been meeting for twenty-seven years, and was organized at first as an escape from the weekly grind and a chance to talk about books—and life—with female friends. “We used to have rules on how long babies could stay during our meetings,” says Harris. “Now we’re considering rules for grandchildren!”

Some members of Roberts’ book club have known each other since first grade. They’ve traveled across the country together, and are even writing a book of short stories, titled Life Matters. Roberts hopes to someday add a chapter called A Call To Action, focusing on the effort to find the Fort Lawton families.

On Sunday, February 10, twenty-six women gathered in a north Seattle living room to discuss On American Soil. While most were from Harris’ and Roberts’ groups, a total of six book clubs were represented. For three hours, the gathering talked about the book with author Jack Hamann, and made initial plans for a nationwide effort.

“I think it’s time for us all to start making noise,” said Harris afterwards.

Within hours, one of the women in attendance—a native South African—had written an email to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “Archbishop Tutu is moved by your story,” came the immediate reply. “He will be writing to Oprah in the hope that she too will be moved to help find the families of those former servicemen.”

43 U.S. soldiers—all of them African-American—were charged with rioting in 1944 by Army prosecutor Leon Jaworski. Three of the defendants were also accused of the lynching murder of Italian prisoner of war Guglielmo Olivotto. 28 men were eventually convicted; two of manslaughter. 13 were acquitted and 2 others had charges dropped during trial. On October 26, 2007, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records unanimously overturned the convictions, citing the research in On American Soil.

At least two of the defendants are still alive and have been located. The families of nine other defendants—eight who were convicted and one who was acquitted—have also been located. That means that thirty-one families—including eighteen who are covered by the Army’s recent ruling—have yet to be contacted.

Veterans’ families not yet located:
[by place of death or last known hometown]

ILLINOIS
Nelson L. Alston (Chicago)
Richard H. Barber (Chicago)
Johnnie Ceaser (Chicago)
Robert Sanders (Chicago)
Booker W. Thornton (Chicago)
David Walton (Chicago)
Wallace A. Wooden (Chicago)
Arthur Williams (Mound City)

TEXAS
Loary M. Moore (Houston)
Riley L. Buckner (Houston)
James Coverson (Houston)
Richard L. Sutliff (Houston)
Jefferson D. Green (San Antonio)
Freddie Umblance (San Antonio)
Frank R. Hughes (Hearne)
Walter Jackson (Somerville)

CALIFORNIA
Russell Ellis (Los Angeles)
Emanuel W. Ford (Los Angeles)

PENNSYLVANIA
Willie C. Basden (Allentown)
Henry Jupiter (Philadelphia)

MICHIGAN
Nathaniel T. Spencer (Detroit)
Arthur L. Stone (Detroit)

ARKANSAS
C. W. Spencer (Little Rock)
Lee A. Dixon (Little Rock)

NEW YORK
John R. Brown (Mount Vernon)

VIRGINIA
Sylvester Campbell (city unknown)

GEORGIA
Freddie L. Simmons (Macon)

LOUISIANA
Willie S. Curry (Shreveport)

SOUTH CAROLINA
John S. Brown, Sr. (Lancaster)

OKLAHOMA
Herman Johnson (Oklahoma City)

MISSOURI
James C. Chandler, Jr. (Kansas City)

COLORADO
Ernest Graham (Steamboat Springs)

Veterans still alive or families located:

SAMUEL SNOW
Leesburg, FL (still alive)
Leesburg, FL (son)

ROY MONTGOMERY
Park Forest, IL (still alive)
Park Forest, IL (daughter)

BOOKER TOWNSELL
Milwaukee, WI (son, daughters, grandchildren)

LUTHER LARKIN
Los Angeles (daughter, granddaughter)
Orlando, FL (nephew)
Chicago (nieces)

ARTHUR HURKS
Alameda, CA (granddaughter)
Baton Rouge, LA (cousin)

WILLIAM JONES
Joliet, IL (sister)
Decatur, IL (daughter)

JOHN HAMILTON
Houston (son & daughter)

LES STEWART
Austin, TX (widow)
Houston, TX (son)

WILLIE PREVOST
Los Angeles (son)
Houston, TX (2 sons)

ELVA SHELTON
St. Louis (widow, son)

MILTON BRATTON
Kansas City (grandson)