MONTGOMERY, Ala., June 18 (UPI) -- The Army has launched an inquiry into whether racism is the reason a number of black soldiers were removed from their jobs and left behind when their unit went to Iraq early last year. They apparently were replaced by white males.
A top officer with Headquarters Company of the Army Reserve 926 Engineer Group, based in Montgomery, said race had nothing to do with the transfers in that company. He said the transfers followed Army protocol.
Several soldiers from the unit interviewed by UPI blamed racism.
"I quickly noticed the race piece of it. It just appalled me," Chaplain Maj. Glenn Taylor, 47, said in an interview at his home in Orrville, Ala., a rural farming community outside Selma with a population of 235. "It was just plain old wrong. This was against my faith and against my integrity. It was ethically wrong."
Taylor, the white chaplain for the company, and another white officer said they believe they faced retribution for reporting the racism allegations.
The second-in-command of the company, Lt. Col. James Gates, denied that racism had anything to do with the moves. "It is true that many people who did not deploy with the unit are of African-American descent. Many are fine people," Gates said in a telephone interview. "However, it is not true that any soldier was not chosen for deployment based on the color of their skin."
Gates acknowledged that he and three other top officers have been suspended from their posts during an Army investigation, but said that investigation is unrelated to the charges of racism. He recently returned from a year of service with the unit in Iraq.
A memo drafted by the company leaders obtained by UPI says changes to the unit roster were made because of medical problems or because some soldiers were not qualified for their assigned posts, among other reasons.
Gates said the 88-member company -- formally known as Headquarters and Headquarters Company -- was comprised of 65 percent African-American soldiers before deploying. He acknowledged that the "overwhelming majority" of replacements from other units were white. He said that is because they volunteered.
Gates also said that three months prior to going to war, he personally replaced the top enlisted officer -- who is white -- with an African-American and made a special appeal to the Army to bring another black soldier to Iraq.
Documents obtained by UPI show a flurry of changes among soldiers in Headquarters Company just before going to Iraq last spring. One document appears to show a group of 15 solders shifted to "excess." Twelve of those soldiers ultimately did not go to Iraq. Nine of the 12 were black and most are senior soldiers.
Of the three white soldiers who did not go, one was married to an African-American and the other says she was a whistle-blower in the controversy. A third had a legitimate educational conflict.
Another document shows the arrival of 13 soldiers from other units, all apparently white males.
One black soldier interviewed by UPI claimed to be fit and qualified for duty in Iraq and had already said goodbye to family before suddenly being removed. Two more black soldiers who did go to Iraq with the unit said they believed some fellow black soldiers were left behind because of racism. All asked not to be identified, fearing retribution.
Both sides agree that a number of soldiers were moved out of the unit for legitimate reasons prior to deployment. They disagree on whether -- in addition to the legitimate moves -- fit and qualified black soldiers were unfairly removed and replaced with whites.
The military has long been seen as the vanguard of racial integration. President Harry S. Truman in 1948 signed an executive order setting in motion the integration of the armed forces. Within the military, service in combat is considered a quick route to advancement.
A spokesman for the 81st Regional Readiness Command in Birmingham said the Army could not comment on the racism allegations. "Due to the fact that an inquiry into the actions that took place at the 926 is ongoing, it is inappropriate for me to comment at this time," said Lt. Col Dave Rodgers.
Maj. Mary Tatum, who was the top personnel officer in the unit and white, said that in February 2003 she complained to Lt. Col. Gates, the unit second-in-command, that qualified black soldiers were being removed. She was subsequently dropped from her slot for Iraq, and later moved to another battalion in Montgomery. She says she has not been allowed to return to her company in the 926 Engineer Group.
Tatum told UPI that few soldiers relished the thought of war, but were humiliated by being pulled from the jobs. "I don't want anything to disgrace our soldiers," Tatum said at an interview in Montgomery at the office of her new unit. "It was embarrassing for our soldiers."
Taylor, the chaplain who is also the pastor at the Orrville Baptist church, said he delivered an anonymous letter of grievances to top Army officials at Fort Stewart once the unit arrived there before the company moved on to Iraq. He says he also discussed the race issue with an investigator for the 1st Army Inspector General that spring of 2003. He said nothing happened.
Taylor did not serve with the unit in Iraq because of a temporary medical problem just before deployment, according to legal documents from his case.
He has 14 years service in uniform, including four on active duty. He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal. His record appears clear. "I have never had so much as a speeding ticket," Taylor said.
Several months after alerting his chain of command about the alleged racism, Taylor was charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice with a raft of offenses, including being absent without leave, missing movement, failure to obey orders or regulations, making false official statements and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentlemen.
In February, a colonel presiding over the military equivalent of a grand jury tossed out all of the charges.
"This is a story about how disappointing it is to have the courage to bring up wrongdoing, not only as chaplain but as a staff officer," Taylor said. "To be ignored and to be ignored by your command -- and then to be shot back at with felony charges that were all dropped -- disappoints you.
"While I have proudly worn the uniform for 15 years, this makes me feel very different about it. I am not as proud as I once was."
By Mark Benjamin
UPI Investigations Editor
Published 6/18/2004 11:22 AM
A top officer with Headquarters Company of the Army Reserve 926 Engineer Group, based in Montgomery, said race had nothing to do with the transfers in that company. He said the transfers followed Army protocol.
Several soldiers from the unit interviewed by UPI blamed racism.
"I quickly noticed the race piece of it. It just appalled me," Chaplain Maj. Glenn Taylor, 47, said in an interview at his home in Orrville, Ala., a rural farming community outside Selma with a population of 235. "It was just plain old wrong. This was against my faith and against my integrity. It was ethically wrong."
Taylor, the white chaplain for the company, and another white officer said they believe they faced retribution for reporting the racism allegations.
The second-in-command of the company, Lt. Col. James Gates, denied that racism had anything to do with the moves. "It is true that many people who did not deploy with the unit are of African-American descent. Many are fine people," Gates said in a telephone interview. "However, it is not true that any soldier was not chosen for deployment based on the color of their skin."
Gates acknowledged that he and three other top officers have been suspended from their posts during an Army investigation, but said that investigation is unrelated to the charges of racism. He recently returned from a year of service with the unit in Iraq.
A memo drafted by the company leaders obtained by UPI says changes to the unit roster were made because of medical problems or because some soldiers were not qualified for their assigned posts, among other reasons.
Gates said the 88-member company -- formally known as Headquarters and Headquarters Company -- was comprised of 65 percent African-American soldiers before deploying. He acknowledged that the "overwhelming majority" of replacements from other units were white. He said that is because they volunteered.
Gates also said that three months prior to going to war, he personally replaced the top enlisted officer -- who is white -- with an African-American and made a special appeal to the Army to bring another black soldier to Iraq.
Documents obtained by UPI show a flurry of changes among soldiers in Headquarters Company just before going to Iraq last spring. One document appears to show a group of 15 solders shifted to "excess." Twelve of those soldiers ultimately did not go to Iraq. Nine of the 12 were black and most are senior soldiers.
Of the three white soldiers who did not go, one was married to an African-American and the other says she was a whistle-blower in the controversy. A third had a legitimate educational conflict.
Another document shows the arrival of 13 soldiers from other units, all apparently white males.
One black soldier interviewed by UPI claimed to be fit and qualified for duty in Iraq and had already said goodbye to family before suddenly being removed. Two more black soldiers who did go to Iraq with the unit said they believed some fellow black soldiers were left behind because of racism. All asked not to be identified, fearing retribution.
Both sides agree that a number of soldiers were moved out of the unit for legitimate reasons prior to deployment. They disagree on whether -- in addition to the legitimate moves -- fit and qualified black soldiers were unfairly removed and replaced with whites.
The military has long been seen as the vanguard of racial integration. President Harry S. Truman in 1948 signed an executive order setting in motion the integration of the armed forces. Within the military, service in combat is considered a quick route to advancement.
A spokesman for the 81st Regional Readiness Command in Birmingham said the Army could not comment on the racism allegations. "Due to the fact that an inquiry into the actions that took place at the 926 is ongoing, it is inappropriate for me to comment at this time," said Lt. Col Dave Rodgers.
Maj. Mary Tatum, who was the top personnel officer in the unit and white, said that in February 2003 she complained to Lt. Col. Gates, the unit second-in-command, that qualified black soldiers were being removed. She was subsequently dropped from her slot for Iraq, and later moved to another battalion in Montgomery. She says she has not been allowed to return to her company in the 926 Engineer Group.
Tatum told UPI that few soldiers relished the thought of war, but were humiliated by being pulled from the jobs. "I don't want anything to disgrace our soldiers," Tatum said at an interview in Montgomery at the office of her new unit. "It was embarrassing for our soldiers."
Taylor, the chaplain who is also the pastor at the Orrville Baptist church, said he delivered an anonymous letter of grievances to top Army officials at Fort Stewart once the unit arrived there before the company moved on to Iraq. He says he also discussed the race issue with an investigator for the 1st Army Inspector General that spring of 2003. He said nothing happened.
Taylor did not serve with the unit in Iraq because of a temporary medical problem just before deployment, according to legal documents from his case.
He has 14 years service in uniform, including four on active duty. He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal. His record appears clear. "I have never had so much as a speeding ticket," Taylor said.
Several months after alerting his chain of command about the alleged racism, Taylor was charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice with a raft of offenses, including being absent without leave, missing movement, failure to obey orders or regulations, making false official statements and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentlemen.
In February, a colonel presiding over the military equivalent of a grand jury tossed out all of the charges.
"This is a story about how disappointing it is to have the courage to bring up wrongdoing, not only as chaplain but as a staff officer," Taylor said. "To be ignored and to be ignored by your command -- and then to be shot back at with felony charges that were all dropped -- disappoints you.
"While I have proudly worn the uniform for 15 years, this makes me feel very different about it. I am not as proud as I once was."
By Mark Benjamin
UPI Investigations Editor
Published 6/18/2004 11:22 AM
