38 available solely on the basis of rank and seniority and that racial considerations would be excluded. In 1954, before the Supreme Court ruled that the separation of children by race in public schools violated the Constitution, the Department decided to desegregate school facilities on military bases.*0 Today, as a result of these policies, the operation of military installations is generally free from the taint of racial discrimination." White and Negro servicemen not only work side by side, but spend much of their off-duty time together. They use the same stores, eat at the same snackbars and cafeterias, play on the same ball teams and attend the same on-base chapels. Families of both races are neighbors in the same military housing areas. Their children are classmates in integrated schools, and use the same playgrounds, swimming pools, and hobby shops. But, although the on-base community today is in many respects a model of the harmonious relationships which can prevail when racial restraints are removed, some problems remain. At many installations, for example, employment at military exchanges, clubs, and shops offers supplementary income for service families. However, at some southern bases, the employment pattern of these facilities reflects the racial practices of the community. White personnel are hired as salesclerks, cashiers, and waitresses; Negroes as dishwashers, busboys, and janitors.2 At one installation where 38 Commission staff interviews with Department of Defense and service representatives, Washington, D.C., June 29 and July 2, 1963. 39 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). 40 Memorandum of Secretary of Defense, on Schools on Military Installations for Dependents of Military and Civilian Personnel, Jan. 12, 1954. 41 Commission staff visits to military installations in Alabama, Oct. 29-Nov. 9, 1962; Colorado, June 5-7, 1962; Florida, Jan. 31-Feb. 8, 1963; Georgia, Dec. 4-12, 1962; Mississippi, May 25-June 3, 1962; North Carolina, Feb. 18-22, 1963; North Dakota, June 17-19, 1962; South Carolina, Aug. 22–31, 1962; South Dakota, June 8-16, 1962; Texas, May 21-24, 1962, and Dec. 12-20, 1962; Virginia, Jan. 21-30, 1963. 42 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen and civilian employees in Alabama, Nov. 4, 1962; Florida, Feb. 5, 1963; Georgia, Dec. 4, 6, and 11, 1962; North Carolina, Feb. 18, 1963; South Carolina, Aug. 27 and 28, 1962; Texas, Dec. 20, 1962; Virginia, Jan. 29 and 30, 1963. Affidavit of Negro serviceman in Florida, Jan. 28, 1963, copy retained in Commission files. Letter from Negro servicemen in Georgia, January 1963, copy retained in Commission files. 699-919 - 63 - 13 on-base schools are operated by the local school district, wives of Negro servicemen have had difficulty in obtaining employment as teachers." 43 The services encourage social activities at installations as a factor in maintaining morale." For Negro servicemen who may be barred from using community facilities because of race, entertainment provided on base is of greater importance. But, at some posts, recreational facilities such as noncommissioned officers' clubs are segregated and Negro servicemen are dissuaded from using the main club. Considerable effort is made to enlist community cooperation in staging base dances, which includes making arrangements for inviting and transporting "junior hostesses" to the installation. But, at these posts, Negro junior hostesses are not brought to the bases for dances." 45 46 At one base, public buses which travel between the military installation and the surrounding community pick up servicemen on base but require Negro personnel to move to the rear of the bus when it leaves the installation." Taxi companies at several installations refuse to pick up Negro servicemen in town, but are permitted to carry white passengers to and from the base.48 44 43 Commission staff interview with military installation official in Texas, Dec. 20, 1962. Commission staff interviews with service representatives, Washington, D.C., April 22, 24, 26, and 30, 1963. See also service recreational publications e.g., Air Force Reg. 34-36 and 215-1. 45 15 Frequently, white managers and white personnel are employed in the main clubs and Negro managers and Negro personnel are employed at branch annexes. Negro servicemen are also dissuaded from using the main clubs by occasional instances of preferential treatment for white personnel. Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Alabama, Nov. 4, 1962; Florida, Feb. 5, 1963; Georgia, Dec. 11, 1962; Mississippi, May 29, June 1 and 3, 1962; South Carolina, August 29, 1962; Texas, Dec. 20, 1962. 46 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Alabama, Oct. 31, Nov. 5 and 7, 1962; Mississippi, May 29, June 1 and 3, 1962. 47 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Mississippi, May 29, June 1 and 3, 1962. 48 'Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen at two Florida military installations, Feb. 5 and 6, 1963. Commission staff interview with service representatives, Washington, D.C., Apr. 25, 1963. In part, these practices are the legacy of an era when all aspects of military activity were segregated." But today, discrimination on base results largely from the impingement of community customs and attitudes upon the operation of the military installation. OFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY Cooperative activities between the military and neighboring civilian communities are supported by all of the services to establish a relationship based upon respect, acceptance, and appreciation.50 Local commanders are encouraged to seek out opportunities to participate in community activities. They are also encouraged to make base facilities available to the community. The services consider harmonious base-community relations as the sign of an effective and successful local commander. The goal is to get along with the community. But the Department of Defense has not supplied its commanders with guidance on how to deal with the racial implications of a community relations program. As a result, the responses of local commanders have varied with their personal views and local pressures. From a review of the incidents occurring at installations throughout the country, a clear pattern emerges of military accommodation to the discriminatory practices of local communities. One facet of the problem is the policy of permitting segregated groups to avail themselves of military facilities not otherwise available in town. Under this policy, segregated athletic teams and clubs, segregated Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and segre 49 For example at one military installation in Georgia, the all-Negro-staffed exchange at one time served only segregated units. At the present time, the all-Negro staff continues, despite the fact that the Negro units have been integrated. Commission staff interview with Negro civilian employee in Georgia, Dec. 6, 1962. 50 Information in this and the following paragraph is drawn from Defense Department Directives Nos. 5410.6 and 5410.7 and service directives. gated professional groups are allowed free use of Federal facilities.51 At the same time, an interracial commission on human relations in a southern State and a servicemen's chapter of the NAACP in a northern State were denied use of installation meeting facilities because of their "controversial nature.' In Mississippi, a commercial sightseeing bus operation is allowed to tour one military base even though it excludes Negro tourists.5 52 53 A second facet of the problem is the activity of servicemen in the community. At some installations, Negro servicemen are excluded from bands, choral groups, and demonstration teams which perform at parades, concerts, and other local functions where local commanders determine that Negro participation would violate local customs. Moreover, bands, demonstration teams, and military speakers lend prestige and support to public functions despite the fact that the audiences are segregated or Negroes are excluded entirely.55 The same policy of accommodation results at some bases in the segregation of Negro servicemen in funeral details.5 56 51 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Alabama, Nov. 5, 1962; and with military installation official in Georgia, Dec. 4, 1962. Letter of Assistant Secretary of Defense to Commission, July 17, 1961, copy retained in Commission files. 52 Commission staff interviews with military installation officials in Georgia, Dec. 11, 1962, and in South Dakota, June 11, 1962. 58 Commission staff interviews with military installation officials in Mississippi, May 29-June 4, 1962. 54 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Alabama, Nov. 3, 4, 5 and 7, 1962; Georgia, Dec. 10 and 11, 1962; Mississippi, May 29, 1962; South Carolina, Aug. 22 and 28, 1962. Defense Department memorandum concerning practices at military installations in Kentucky, Nov. 7, 1961. Letter to Commission from military installation official in Georgia, May 28, 1963, copies of memorandum and letter retained in Commission files. 55 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Mississippi, May 29, 1962; and with the Defense Department representative, Washington, D.C., May 22, 1963; and Winston Salem (N.C.) Journal, May 16, 1963. Also see Defense Department memorandum concerning racial restrictions in Kentucky, Nov. 7, 1961, copy retained in Commission files. 5 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Alabama, Nov. 3-5, 1962; Georgia, Dec. 11, 1962; South Carolina, Aug. 27 and 28, 1962; and with service representatives, Washington, D.C., Apr. 25, 1963. Letter from Army, Oct. 2, 1958, copy retained in Commission files. Negro personnel are commonly excluded from military police patrols in town or are restricted to patrols in Negro areas.57 At one post where duty at the gate results in contact with white local citizens, Negro military police have been moved to traffic-duty assignments within the installation.58 9 59 When the military athletic team of one service played off the post, the Negro member was “forgotten.' At another location, Negro WAVES were not permitted to go and cheer for the team when it performed off base. 60 When troops are being transported by military vehicles, they may stop at segregated restaurants where the Negroes remain on the bus or truck and have food brought to them by white troops who have been served at tables or counters. 61 Some Negro recruits are exposed to segregation early when they find themselves eating in the kitchens of civilian restaurants en route to their train When one military unit decided to use base exchange profits for a group picnic, a Navy supervisor gave each Negro serviceman a few dollars and told the Negroes to have their own picnic since the community park area was open only to whites. When at one base, personnel received an "Airman of the Month" citation for meritorious service, the award included a weekend at a 63 57 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Alabama, Oct. 31-Nov. 3-5, 1962; Florida, Feb. 6, 1963; South Carolina, Aug. 26 and 28, 1962; Texas, May 21-24, 1962; with service representatives, Washington D.C., Apr. 24 and 25, 1963. Letter from Negro servicemen in Georgia, March 7, 1963, copy retained in Commission files. 58 Commission staff interview with military installation officials in Georgia, Dec. 11, 1962. 50 Commission staff interview with Negro servicemen in South Carolina, Aug. 27 and 28, 1962. 60 Commission staff interview with military installation official in South Carolina, Aug. 24, 1962. 61 Commission staff interview with Negro servicemen in Georgia, Dec. 11, 1962, and Mississippi, May 29, 1962. 62 24 Commission staff interviews with service representatives, Washington, D.C., Apr. and 25, 1963. 63 Commission staff interviews with Negro servicemen in Florida, Feb. 5, 1963. |