Military Injustices Stay Fresh in Memory
Daniel M. GoldMarch 28, 2012: “Court-Martial at Fort Devens,” at the Castillo Theater, depicts a little-remembered insurrection in the waning months of World War II. A detachment of black members of the Women’s Army Corps, who had enlisted to be trained as medical technicians at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, had their classifications changed and were reassigned to work as hospital orderlies. After striking, then refusing orders to return to work, two of the women faced a court-martial. While largely overlooked, the conflict was covered by the black press, with an N.A.A.C.P. lawyer taking part in what was considered a battle for racial equality in the military. Even Eleanor Roosevelt got involved.
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