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On American Soil: How Justice Became a Casualty of World War II
During the night of August 14, 1944, an Italian prisoner of war was lynched on the Fort Lawton army base in Seattle―a murder that shocked the nation and the international community. It was a time of deep segregation in the army, and the War Department was quick to charge three African American soldiers with first-degree murder, although there was no evidence linking them to the crime. Forty other black soldiers faced lesser charges over the incident, launching one of the largest and longest army trials of World War II.
In this harrowing story of race, privilege, and power, Jack Hamann explores the most overlooked civil rights event in American history. On American Soil raises important questions about how justice is carried out when a country is at war, offering vital lessons on the tensions between national security and individual rights.
A V Ethel Willis White Book
In this harrowing story of race, privilege, and power, Jack Hamann explores the most overlooked civil rights event in American history. On American Soil raises important questions about how justice is carried out when a country is at war, offering vital lessons on the tensions between national security and individual rights.
A V Ethel Willis White Book
358 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 26, 2020
Definite page turner. This book really read like an extended article, but I loved every minute of this real-life crime procedural that rocked the Seattle area and the nation. Historians of Seattle or the Armed Forces will love this one.
“The banner headline across the top of the Wednesday, August 16 Post-Intelligencer read, ONE DEAD IN LAWTON RIOT. Across the country, the Washington Post ran an Associated Press story under the headline ONE FOUND HANGED. Neither report elaborated beyond the information in the army press release. That afternoon, the Seattle Times tried to advance the story by reporting that black soldiers had snuck into the Italian Area.”
“The banner headline across the top of the Wednesday, August 16 Post-Intelligencer read, ONE DEAD IN LAWTON RIOT. Across the country, the Washington Post ran an Associated Press story under the headline ONE FOUND HANGED. Neither report elaborated beyond the information in the army press release. That afternoon, the Seattle Times tried to advance the story by reporting that black soldiers had snuck into the Italian Area.”
March 13, 2008
Very interesting, a true murder mystery that took place at Fort Lawton (Discovery Park) in Seattle in 1944. An Italian prisoner of war was found hung in the woods on the bluff above Puget Sound, the morning after a group of black soldiers had rioted and beat up a group of Italian workers on base. But the botched court-martial overlooked the role of the white MPs and officers who had quarreled with the Italians just two nights before...
Want to Read
April 14, 2012I originally had to find 6 sources for a history paper I had to write and this was one of my sources; however, I was so fascinated with the imagery this book offers that I read way more than I needed to. It's so nice when a "works cited" page becomes something you actually find extremely interesting.
October 20, 2018
Very interesting story. I visit the old Fort Lawton/Discovery Park regularly. It’s so fascinating to understand the history of events that took place there and the sad times of segregation not all that long ago.
April 5, 2012
You have no idea how much I appreciate this book. Thank you
January 27, 2013
This is fascinating, and for the most part, unknown history from WWII. After reading extensively about the horrendous treatment of American soldiers by the Nazi's, I was curious about our treatment of POWs. I was surprised to find this book in response to my search, and am so glad I found and read this engaging account of the only POW to die under our watch "on American Soil".
This is the story about an Italian POW who was found hanged at a military base near Seattle after a riot by African American troops. There was much anger and resentment of the good treatment these POWs received, by a country determined to follow the Geneva convention. The Italians were captured in North Africa, and dispersed to various Allied countries for the duration of the war. Those who weren't a fascist or Nazi sympathizers were eventually put to work in noncombatant duties to help free up as many American soldiers as possible for the war efforts overseas. This was done only after Italy surrendered, and thus were no longer our enemy. As American GIs worked along side them, resentments grew over what was perceived as coddling. Both Caucasian and Black soldiers were irritated, but white soldiers egged on Black soldiers, until a riot broke out because of these underlying tensions. An Italian knocked out a Black soldier who, in a drunken state, cursed a group of Italians, one of whom struck back. The Black troops, having just been prepared to ship out, and trained to seek revenge for any assault on their brethren, unleashed a torrent of violent assault on the Italians in their nearby compound. Dozens were seriously injured by the time the MPs came upon the scene to break it up. A lone Italian soldier was found hanged nearby.
The justice that was served, was self serving for the JAG attorney who prosecuted the case with an eye to advancement of his own career. The now well known Leon Jaworsky was determined to get convictions, as was the Pentagon and the White House, given that Italy had surrendered and was now an ally, working with the US to drive Hitler's troops out of northern Italy. This murder looked bad for us on the international scene. Jaworsky withheld evidence from the defense, the initial investigation was so amateur as to be joke, and the defendants were all a black, in a service which was still segregated, and filled with rascist leanings. The lives of over 40 men were ruined by the miscarriage of justice, all being sentenced to hard labor, and being dishonorably discharged from the service. The murder was never really solved, so the best and brightest of the Black soldiers were charged with the crime, it being assumed that they were the ones leading the charge! The author brilliantly brings this story to light after discovering long classified material, which shed the light of day on this dark chapter in war history.
A must read for those interested in WWII history, history of race relations in the military, and mistreatment of POWs.
This is the story about an Italian POW who was found hanged at a military base near Seattle after a riot by African American troops. There was much anger and resentment of the good treatment these POWs received, by a country determined to follow the Geneva convention. The Italians were captured in North Africa, and dispersed to various Allied countries for the duration of the war. Those who weren't a fascist or Nazi sympathizers were eventually put to work in noncombatant duties to help free up as many American soldiers as possible for the war efforts overseas. This was done only after Italy surrendered, and thus were no longer our enemy. As American GIs worked along side them, resentments grew over what was perceived as coddling. Both Caucasian and Black soldiers were irritated, but white soldiers egged on Black soldiers, until a riot broke out because of these underlying tensions. An Italian knocked out a Black soldier who, in a drunken state, cursed a group of Italians, one of whom struck back. The Black troops, having just been prepared to ship out, and trained to seek revenge for any assault on their brethren, unleashed a torrent of violent assault on the Italians in their nearby compound. Dozens were seriously injured by the time the MPs came upon the scene to break it up. A lone Italian soldier was found hanged nearby.
The justice that was served, was self serving for the JAG attorney who prosecuted the case with an eye to advancement of his own career. The now well known Leon Jaworsky was determined to get convictions, as was the Pentagon and the White House, given that Italy had surrendered and was now an ally, working with the US to drive Hitler's troops out of northern Italy. This murder looked bad for us on the international scene. Jaworsky withheld evidence from the defense, the initial investigation was so amateur as to be joke, and the defendants were all a black, in a service which was still segregated, and filled with rascist leanings. The lives of over 40 men were ruined by the miscarriage of justice, all being sentenced to hard labor, and being dishonorably discharged from the service. The murder was never really solved, so the best and brightest of the Black soldiers were charged with the crime, it being assumed that they were the ones leading the charge! The author brilliantly brings this story to light after discovering long classified material, which shed the light of day on this dark chapter in war history.
A must read for those interested in WWII history, history of race relations in the military, and mistreatment of POWs.
April 16, 2008
I am marking this as "read" even though I didn't finish it. I gave it Nancy Pearl's minimum page rule (100 minus your age) and then some, and I just couldn't get into it. It's a very interesting topic, and local history is always good, but I never want to pick it up. And its preventing me from starting other books. So I am moving on!
March 19, 2009
Meticulously researched, very readable account of an almost unknown incident in WW II history: African American soldiers accused of murdering (by lynching!) an Italian prisoner-of-war during a riot on an American military base in Seattle. Following a bungled investigation, the subsequent court martial was prosecuted by none other than a young Leon Jaworsky, later of Watergate fame.
March 30, 2013
This book tells the story -- or stories -- of a violent incident at Fort Lawton (Seattle) during World War II and the ensuing investigation and court martial. Jack Hamann, a journalist and documentary filmmaker, has written a gripping, thought-provoking tale, exploring issues of race, war, justice, and military bureaucracy.
January 18, 2009
A fantastic book about a fascinating piece of our history...one that is not necessarily something to be proud of. The author is an incredible man with a powerful voice - read this book and if you have the chance to hear the author speak, jump on it.
January 23, 2017
Got halfway through.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews