Update: February 14, 2007
I received an email from a fellow Marine, who is "white" and not African American. He reports information on how I can get "new and material evidence" from the United States Marine Corps.
My fellow Marine reports, "Dear Fred: Like you, I enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1968 but I did not go on Active Duty until June 28, 1968. I vividly remember when Dr. Martin Luther King was killed. Fred, there are many ways that you can locate "new physical evidence" so that you can PROVE your case. You can begin by obtaining your USMC Military Records which should list your specific boot camp Platoon Number (my platoon was Platoon 1035 at MCRD San Diego). After verifying your Platoon number, you can request a Unit Roster which contains the names of other Marines in your outfit. By locating witnesses, you can verify the actions of the white drill instructor.
The following letter is being sent to the Department of the Navy/Marine Corps.
February 14, 2007
Department of the Navy
Mr. Robert D. Zsalman, Acting Executive Director
Board for Correction of Naval Records
2 Navy Annex, Room 2432
Washington, DC 20370-5100
Re: CRS Docket No. 6626-06
Mr. Zsalman:
I respectfully request to appeal your decision in this matter. Could you please direct me or send me the appropriate papers for filing an appeal? In addition, I request the following information from the Department of the Navy/Marine Corps.
Please send me my United States Military Records, along with my boot camp platoon number at MCRD San Diego.
Thank you.
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc:
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
Update: February 5, 2007
I finally received a response from the Department of the Navy. They denied my petition for recharacterization of my discharge citing my "...frequent involvement with military authorities." The Department of the Navy skated around my charge of racism stating "...In its review of your application the Board carefully weighed all potentially mitigating factors, such as your contention that the disciplinary actions taken against you were caused by racism." They did not report any findings about the Sgt. stating "we finally killed that nigger" talking about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What is wrong with people? How do you think I was going to act when you have one of their "finest" call Dr. King a nigger, especially, on the day he was assassinated by a white man; telling all the African Americans in the unit "we finally killed that nigger." I wanted out of the Marine Corps the moment that white man made the statement he did about Dr. King. I was prepared to do whatever was necessary to get discharged. I did not hurt anyone. I did not conform to anything they wanted after this incident.
The Department of the Navy cites my use of an unauthorized liberty card. Yes, I had an authorized liberty card because the Marine Corps told me I could not go home to my family for 3 months during one of their disciplinary inquisitions. My family lived off base. Yes, I disobeyed lawful orders because I was not going to obey people who perpetrated crimes against "liberty and respect" and against humanity. The Department of the Navy cites my being out of uniform. The uniform did not stand for much after the Sgt. called Dr. King a nigger. The Sgt. was wearing the uniform.
I should have been discharged with the same characterization as I had before I joined such a racist organization. The characterization I have been discharge under stigmatizes me for life. The Department of the Navy reports "...Although your record does not contain the separation documents, it appears that your commanding officer recommended that you be separated with an undesirable discharge by reason of unfitness." This three-member panel uses a word like "appears" to draw a conclusion. What nonsense. The message to African Americans is we can call you nigger anytime we want too and you better not say anything about it.
If this entity did their investigation properly, they could have sought the Sgt. who was our drill instructor in April of 1968. That should not have been hard since we only had one Sgt. in charge. This Sgt. had other charges brought against him. The Department of the Navy reports I have no "physical" evidence. How is one to have physical evidence, when one is involved in a Marine Corps boot camp in 1968? There was no one to complain to in April of 1968. Many of the "white" drill instructors in the Marine Corps were racist. Mr. Robert D. Zsalman, Acting Executive Director, issued this decision suggesting if I come up with any "new" physical evidence, I should re-apply. These people are too funny.
Someone from the Department of the Navy has been monitoring this website and my Townhall website since I filed my petition, but more frequently in the last 2 weeks. The Department of the Navy had already decided what the outcome of this investigation was going to be.
Anyone volunteering for the Department of the Navy or the Marine Corps better be careful about where they put their future. Racism still flourishes in the Department of the Navy. This is the warning I send: African Americans do not volunteer or join the United States Navy or Marine Corps. Racism will raise its ugly face, and there will be no recourse only reprisals if you stand up and say stop.
They may have people watching them now. There was no one watching in 1968, especially when Dr. King was assassinated. I am not a racist. I report on racism. It does not take an authority to report on racism. All you have to do is be black.
December 15, 2006
Department of the Navy
Board for Correction of Naval Records
2 Navy Annex, Room 2432
Washington, DC 20370-5100
Re: Docket Number 6626-06
Dear Sir or Madam:
On or about July 14, 2006 I submitted DD Form 293 requesting a discharge change. I received notice from the NDRB my paperwork was received on July 25, 2006. I have yet to receive any follow-up from the Department of the Navy to my request. Therefore, this is a follow-up to my request.
As part of my request for a discharge change, I submitted the following and now want to reiterate my beginning paragraph toward this request to the Department of the Navy: On or about March 4, 1968 I entered the United States Marine Corps (USMC). I am African-American. I volunteered to serve in the USMC for 4 years. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. My white drill instructor, who was a Sergeant, told all the African American military personnel who were in my unit to get on the street. All the African American’s came out of their barracks.
The white drill instructor told us the “smoking lamp” is lit. This means we could smoke cigarettes if we were smokers. The white drill instructor stated, “Dr. Martin Luther King was killed today. We finally got that nigger. Now put those damn cigarettes out and get your asses back into those barracks.” This statement was outrageous and changed the course of my life and many others who thought they wanted to serve their country and be part of the United States Marine Corps.
With this said, I believe my request should be examined and scrutinized as soon as possible. This should not be a hard decision. My USMC experience impacted the rest of my life. My experience in the Marine Corps demonstrated how this country looked at African Americans in 60s, 70s, and the present. Everything that happened in my military life after this statement was part and partial of this statement made by one of your “finest.” I am requesting this Board act expeditiously to my appeal.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc: http://click.townhall.com/
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
