"HIS 10 YEAR SENTENCE HAD BEEN REDUCED TO 1 YEAR"

HOUSE SAYS PRIVATE FOUND GUILTY OF CURSING ENTITLED TO HONORABLE DISCHARGE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 18, 1926, The Sunday Star reports that the United States House of Representatives voted "a buck private sentenced to 10 years in prison for cursing" is entitled to an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army.

Private George Barrett of Oakland, California cursed when his sergeant read an order "forbidding men to wear gloves or overcoats while grooming horses."  Barrett is currently at Livermore Hospital* where he is dying of tuberculosis.

The private served with the 12th Field Artillery of the 2nd Division in the St. Mihiel and Argonne offensives during the world war.

Convicted in 1919, a review board reduced his sentence to one year.

*It is not made clear in the Star's article if Mr. Barrett was at the United States Veterans Hospital in Livermore or Arroyo Del Valle Sanatorium which specialized in treating tuberculosis (1918-1960).

SOURCE

"House Would Clear War Veteran Held Guilty of Cursing," The Sunday Star, April 18, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

62nd Field Artillery Brigade

1918-1919

www.dvidshub.net/

www.nara.getarchive.net/

"PEACETIME REITERATION OF AMERICA'S PATRIOTIC SPIRIT"

'BLACK JACK' SPENDS HIS LAST FULL DAY OF ACTIVE SERVICE IN U.S. ARMY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) General John J. Pershing* has "spent his last full day of active service in the Army he loved."

The Evening Star reports on September 12, 1924 that the General retires having witnessed "with mingled emotions"a peacetime reiteration of America's patriotic spirit as well as his emergence following the world war as a "war hero."

JFK+50 NOTE

One theory of how Pershing got the nickname 'Black Jack' is because his first posting as a First Lieutenant at Fort Bayard, Arizona included commanding African-American 'buffalo soldiers'.

*John Joseph Pershing (1860-1948) was born in Laclede, Missouri & served in the United States Army 1886-1924.  JJP served in the Mexican Expedition, American Expeditionary Force, First U.S. Army and as Chief of Staff.

SOURCE

"Pershing Leaving Army, Is Honored," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 12, 1924 

 

 

John J. Pershing

Bain News Service

Library of Congress