The Presidio Mutiny of 1968 - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 05:43, 28 March 2017

2017-03-28T05:43:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:43, 27 March 2017
Line 109:		Line 109:
	There followed the longest and one of the most controversial series of courts-martial in American history. Military justice being what it is, all but five -- three escaped to Canada and two were found guilty of lesser crimes -- were convicted of the charge and given sentences ranging from six months to sixteen years. It was not until more than a year later, when the slow process of military appeals had been completed, that the convictions were overturned and the sentences reduced to a maximum of one year, already served, for willful disobedience of a lawful order. The military appeals judge, Colonel Jacob Hagopian, used exceptionally strong language in reversing the court martial verdicts:		There followed the longest and one of the most controversial series of courts-martial in American history. Military justice being what it is, all but five -- three escaped to Canada and two were found guilty of lesser crimes -- were convicted of the charge and given sentences ranging from six months to sixteen years. It was not until more than a year later, when the slow process of military appeals had been completed, that the convictions were overturned and the sentences reduced to a maximum of one year, already served, for willful disobedience of a lawful order. The military appeals judge, Colonel Jacob Hagopian, used exceptionally strong language in reversing the court martial verdicts:

	"Mindful that a concerted intent to override lawful military authority is a requisite element which must be proved, the facts of this record shout its absence. The words and deeds of the [appellants] do not evince, either singularly or collectively, an intention to usurp or override military authority. Rather, the common thread of evidence throughout this entire voluminous record demonstrates an intention to implore and invoke the very military authority which they are charged with seeking to override."		<blockquote>"Mindful that a concerted intent to override lawful military authority is a requisite element which must be proved, the facts of this record shout its absence. The words and deeds of the [appellants] do not evince, either singularly or collectively, an intention to usurp or override military authority. Rather, the common thread of evidence throughout this entire voluminous record demonstrates an intention to implore and invoke the very military authority which they are charged with seeking to override."</blockquote>

	The demonstrators had, in the end, been vindicated--but only at the cost of enormous personal suffering.		The demonstrators had, in the end, been vindicated--but only at the cost of enormous personal suffering.

Ccarlsson: added link

2017-03-28T05:42:39Z

added link

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 27 March 2017
Line 63:		Line 63:
	''Photo: Steve Rees''		''Photo: Steve Rees''

	Of the 123 prisoners in the stockade that morning, nearly a quarter -- twenty-seven -- took part in the "mutiny." Considering the inevitable reprisals, this was an extraordinary turnout. Conspicuous among the absentees were the black prisoners, who feared that punitive reaction would be harshest against them.		Of the 123 prisoners in the stockade that morning, nearly a quarter -- [[Presidio 27\|twenty-seven]] -- took part in the "mutiny." Considering the inevitable reprisals, this was an extraordinary turnout. Conspicuous among the absentees were the black prisoners, who feared that punitive reaction would be harshest against them.

	The twenty-seven men represented a good cross-section of the total population, not only of the''' '''Presidio stockade, but of all military prisons. All were AWOL's. Their average age was 19. None came from wealthy, well-educated, or established families; a surprising number, in fact, were sons of career military men. All but five had been unable to finish high school. Several, like many other high school dropouts, had joined the Army on the promise of being given useful vocational training. None received the assignments he had expected.		The twenty-seven men represented a good cross-section of the total population, not only of the''' '''Presidio stockade, but of all military prisons. All were AWOL's. Their average age was 19. None came from wealthy, well-educated, or established families; a surprising number, in fact, were sons of career military men. All but five had been unable to finish high school. Several, like many other high school dropouts, had joined the Army on the promise of being given useful vocational training. None received the assignments he had expected.

Ccarlsson: added photos

2017-03-28T05:35:36Z

added photos

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:35, 27 March 2017
Line 38:		Line 38:

	One day in October 1968, Bunch asked another prisoner to recommend a foolproof method of committing suicide. The latter, half-jokingly, suggested running away from a shotgun work detail. On Friday, October 11, while on such a detail, Bunch asked a guard, "If I run, will you shoot me?" The guard replied, "You'll have to run to find out." Bunch requested the guard to shoot at his head, then skipped away directly in front of him. He had gone barely thirty feet when the guard killed him with a 12 gauge shotgun blast straight at his back.		One day in October 1968, Bunch asked another prisoner to recommend a foolproof method of committing suicide. The latter, half-jokingly, suggested running away from a shotgun work detail. On Friday, October 11, while on such a detail, Bunch asked a guard, "If I run, will you shoot me?" The guard replied, "You'll have to run to find out." Bunch requested the guard to shoot at his head, then skipped away directly in front of him. He had gone barely thirty feet when the guard killed him with a 12 gauge shotgun blast straight at his back.

			[[Image:RichardBunch morgue.jpg\|720px]]

			'''Richard Bunch morgue shot.'''

	When word of the shooting reached the stockade, the prisoners could barely contain their fury. Someone walked over to Bunch's bunk and found a handwritten note that said, "Well if you're not going to give me love at least do me the favor of complete elimination ... Fuck it, it ain't worth living ... I've got but one click and it's over." Stockade officials quickly declared the shooting a "justifiable homicide."		When word of the shooting reached the stockade, the prisoners could barely contain their fury. Someone walked over to Bunch's bunk and found a handwritten note that said, "Well if you're not going to give me love at least do me the favor of complete elimination ... Fuck it, it ain't worth living ... I've got but one click and it's over." Stockade officials quickly declared the shooting a "justifiable homicide."
Line 46:		Line 50:

	On Monday morning, October 14, 1968, there took place in the stockade a peaceful sit-down demonstration that has since become known as the "Presidio mutiny." More than the prisoners could have anticipated, it succeeded in focusing attention not only on their stockade, but on the entire military system.		On Monday morning, October 14, 1968, there took place in the stockade a peaceful sit-down demonstration that has since become known as the "Presidio mutiny." More than the prisoners could have anticipated, it succeeded in focusing attention not only on their stockade, but on the entire military system.

			[[Image:Reading demands.jpg\|756px]]

			'''Reading demands during mutiny.'''

			''Photo: Steve Rees''

			[[Image:Reading demands 3.jpg]]

			'''Reading demands.'''

			''Photo: Steve Rees''

	Of the 123 prisoners in the stockade that morning, nearly a quarter -- twenty-seven -- took part in the "mutiny." Considering the inevitable reprisals, this was an extraordinary turnout. Conspicuous among the absentees were the black prisoners, who feared that punitive reaction would be harshest against them.		Of the 123 prisoners in the stockade that morning, nearly a quarter -- twenty-seven -- took part in the "mutiny." Considering the inevitable reprisals, this was an extraordinary turnout. Conspicuous among the absentees were the black prisoners, who feared that punitive reaction would be harshest against them.
Line 52:		Line 68:

	Three of the twenty-seven could be described as Vietnam War objectors. Private Stephen Rowland of St. Louis, the son of an Air Force lieutenant colonel and one of the two demonstrators with a bit of college, had volunteered for the Army because he wanted training in occupational therapy. A few months later, after being trained as a combat medic, he had applied for discharge as a conscientious objector and been turned down. Private Keith Mather of San Bruno, California, another high school graduate, was one of nine antiwar GI's who six months earlier had publicly tried to resign from the Army. Private Richard Gentile of Hampton, Virginia, stepson of a career Air Force NCO, had served twelve months in Vietnam as a machine-gunner; by the time he got back to the States he was sick of killing. Just the previous Saturday, October 12, with only eighty-four days left in his three-year enlistment, he had violated a post-wide restriction to take part in a San Francisco peace march and subsequently been thrown in the stockade for being eight hours AWOL.		Three of the twenty-seven could be described as Vietnam War objectors. Private Stephen Rowland of St. Louis, the son of an Air Force lieutenant colonel and one of the two demonstrators with a bit of college, had volunteered for the Army because he wanted training in occupational therapy. A few months later, after being trained as a combat medic, he had applied for discharge as a conscientious objector and been turned down. Private Keith Mather of San Bruno, California, another high school graduate, was one of nine antiwar GI's who six months earlier had publicly tried to resign from the Army. Private Richard Gentile of Hampton, Virginia, stepson of a career Air Force NCO, had served twelve months in Vietnam as a machine-gunner; by the time he got back to the States he was sick of killing. Just the previous Saturday, October 12, with only eighty-four days left in his three-year enlistment, he had violated a post-wide restriction to take part in a San Francisco peace march and subsequently been thrown in the stockade for being eight hours AWOL.

			[[Image:Sit-in and singing workprint.jpg]]

			'''Sitting in and singing.'''

			''Photo: Steve Rees''

	Most of the other "mutineers" were military misfits of various sorts. Some were simply cultural aliens. Private Walter Pawlowski of New York City, a straight-A student in high school, had rebelled against what he considered the absurdity of Army discipline. Private Ricky Lee Dodd was a gentle California flower child who kept running away from the Army that was trying to make him into a killer; he became famous in the stockade for his several bizarre attempts at suicide, including the nearly successful effort to hang himself on his bandages. Private Roy Pulley, of Clear Lake Park, California, an "Army brat" by family background, was a hard-drinking, grass-smoking motorcycle enthusiast who had ridden with the Hell's Angels. After a run-in with police, he enlisted in the Army to learn airplane maintenance; instead, he was trained as a helicopter door-gunner.		Most of the other "mutineers" were military misfits of various sorts. Some were simply cultural aliens. Private Walter Pawlowski of New York City, a straight-A student in high school, had rebelled against what he considered the absurdity of Army discipline. Private Ricky Lee Dodd was a gentle California flower child who kept running away from the Army that was trying to make him into a killer; he became famous in the stockade for his several bizarre attempts at suicide, including the nearly successful effort to hang himself on his bandages. Private Roy Pulley, of Clear Lake Park, California, an "Army brat" by family background, was a hard-drinking, grass-smoking motorcycle enthusiast who had ridden with the Hell's Angels. After a run-in with police, he enlisted in the Army to learn airplane maintenance; instead, he was trained as a helicopter door-gunner.

	Two of the ~~27~~--Privates Billy Hayes and Danny Seals--were Project 100,000 men with known mental deficiencies. Seals, from Auburn, California, was mildly retarded from a childhood brain injury. He had wanted to become a medic, but flunked the course at Fort Sam Houston and went AWOL in a fit of despondency. "It was hard to learn in the Army," he said. "I had to take notes and I couldn't spell."		Two of the 27--Privates Billy Hayes and Danny Seals--were Project 100,000 men with known mental deficiencies. Seals, from Auburn, California, was mildly retarded from a childhood brain injury. He had wanted to become a medic, but flunked the course at Fort Sam Houston and went AWOL in a fit of despondency. "It was hard to learn in the Army," he said. "I had to take notes and I couldn't spell."

	Two others--Privates Michael Murphy and Larry Zaino--were high school dropouts who had gotten in trouble with the law and joined the Army under pressure from their probation officers. Both had gone AWOL four times before landing in the Presidio stockade.		Two others--Privates Michael Murphy and Larry Zaino--were high school dropouts who had gotten in trouble with the law and joined the Army under pressure from their probation officers. Both had gone AWOL four times before landing in the Presidio stockade.

Lisaruth: brought date and book name from below to top of page at byline

2015-03-24T22:53:18Z

brought date and book name from below to top of page at byline

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:53, 24 March 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by Peter Barnes''		''by Peter Barnes, excerpted from ''Pawns: The Plight of the Citizen-Soldier'', (Alfred Knopf, New York: 1972)''

	[[Image:1968-kezar-rally-against-Vietnam-War-w-Johnson-is-a-war-criminal-sign 7108.jpg]]		[[Image:1968-kezar-rally-against-Vietnam-War-w-Johnson-is-a-war-criminal-sign 7108.jpg]]
Line 90:		Line 90:

	The demonstrators had, in the end, been vindicated--but only at the cost of enormous personal suffering.		The demonstrators had, in the end, been vindicated--but only at the cost of enormous personal suffering.

	~~-- ''Peter Barnes'', excerpted from ''Pawns: The Plight of the Citizen-Soldier'', Alfred Knopf, New York: 1972.~~

	<hr>		<hr>

Lisaruth: rewrote intro to abstract

2015-03-24T22:42:48Z

rewrote intro to abstract

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 24 March 2015
Line 10:		Line 10:

	{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"		{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
	\| colspan="2" \| '''In 1968, ~~an unstable military prisoner~~ at the Presidio stockade ~~committed suicide~~ by ~~asking~~ a guard ~~to shoot him in the head as he ran from the prison. When word of this horror reached the rest of the stockade~~, they decided to take part in a nonviolent sit-down protest where they planned to voice their grievances. Though the protest went peacefully and according to plan, Captain Lamont ordered the twenty-seven protesters to be physically carried off to their cellblocks. All but five prisoners were convicted and received sentences from six months to sixteen years. More than a year after the sentencing, the convictions were overturned, but only after the demonstrators had suffered greatly.'''		\| colspan="2" \| '''In 1968, after a series of suicide attempts by prisoners held at the Presidio stockade for various reasons including going AWOL, and the killing of one of them by a guard, they decided to take part in a nonviolent sit-down protest where they planned to voice their grievances. Though the protest went peacefully and according to plan, Captain Lamont ordered the twenty-seven protesters to be physically carried off to their cellblocks. All but five prisoners were convicted and received sentences from six months to sixteen years. More than a year after the sentencing, the convictions were overturned, but only after the demonstrators had suffered greatly.'''
	\|}		\|}

Aiobrec13 at 00:54, 9 July 2014

2014-07-09T00:54:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:54, 8 July 2014
Line 10:		Line 10:

	{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"		{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
	\| colspan="2" \| '''In 1968, an unstable military prisoner at the Presidio stockade committed suicide by asking a guard to shoot him in the head as he ran from the prison. When word of this horror reached the rest of the stockade, they decided to take part in a nonviolent sit-down protest where they planned to ~~peacefully~~ voice their grievances. Though the protest went peacefully and according to plan, Captain Lamont ordered the twenty-seven protesters to be physically carried off to their cellblocks. All but five prisoners were convicted and received sentences from six months to sixteen years. More than a year after the sentencing, the convictions were overturned, but only after the demonstrators had suffered greatly.'''		\| colspan="2" \| '''In 1968, an unstable military prisoner at the Presidio stockade committed suicide by asking a guard to shoot him in the head as he ran from the prison. When word of this horror reached the rest of the stockade, they decided to take part in a nonviolent sit-down protest where they planned to voice their grievances. Though the protest went peacefully and according to plan, Captain Lamont ordered the twenty-seven protesters to be physically carried off to their cellblocks. All but five prisoners were convicted and received sentences from six months to sixteen years. More than a year after the sentencing, the convictions were overturned, but only after the demonstrators had suffered greatly.'''
	\|}		\|}

Aiobrec13: Changed a word

2014-07-09T00:49:38Z

Changed a word

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:49, 8 July 2014
Line 10:		Line 10:

	{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"		{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
	\| colspan="2" \| '''In 1968, an unstable military prisoner at the Presidio stockade committed suicide by asking a guard to shoot him in the head as he ran from the prison. When word of this horror reached the rest of the stockade, they decided to take part in a nonviolent sit-down protest where they ~~would~~ peacefully voice their grievances. Though the protest went peacefully and according to plan, Captain Lamont ordered the twenty-seven protesters to be physically carried off to their cellblocks. All but five prisoners were convicted and received sentences from six months to sixteen years. More than a year after the sentencing, the convictions were overturned, but only after the demonstrators had suffered greatly.'''		\| colspan="2" \| '''In 1968, an unstable military prisoner at the Presidio stockade committed suicide by asking a guard to shoot him in the head as he ran from the prison. When word of this horror reached the rest of the stockade, they decided to take part in a nonviolent sit-down protest where they planned to peacefully voice their grievances. Though the protest went peacefully and according to plan, Captain Lamont ordered the twenty-seven protesters to be physically carried off to their cellblocks. All but five prisoners were convicted and received sentences from six months to sixteen years. More than a year after the sentencing, the convictions were overturned, but only after the demonstrators had suffered greatly.'''
	\|}		\|}

Aiobrec13: Wrote an Abstract

2014-07-09T00:46:41Z

Wrote an Abstract

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:46, 8 July 2014
Line 8:		Line 8:

	''Photo: People's World collection, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University''		''Photo: People's World collection, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University''

			{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
			\| colspan="2" \| '''In 1968, an unstable military prisoner at the Presidio stockade committed suicide by asking a guard to shoot him in the head as he ran from the prison. When word of this horror reached the rest of the stockade, they decided to take part in a nonviolent sit-down protest where they would peacefully voice their grievances. Though the protest went peacefully and according to plan, Captain Lamont ordered the twenty-seven protesters to be physically carried off to their cellblocks. All but five prisoners were convicted and received sentences from six months to sixteen years. More than a year after the sentencing, the convictions were overturned, but only after the demonstrators had suffered greatly.'''
			\|}

	Ten miles from the Treasure Island brig, on a wooded hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, sit two aging white stucco buildings surrounded by a high cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. This is San Francisco's other military prison, the Presidio stockade, perhaps the best-known stockade in the Army. It is little used today, and a commission of penologists has recommended abandoning it altogether, but until 1970 it was jammed with a fluctuating population of prisoners and guards in a nearly constant state of agitation.		Ten miles from the Treasure Island brig, on a wooded hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, sit two aging white stucco buildings surrounded by a high cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. This is San Francisco's other military prison, the Presidio stockade, perhaps the best-known stockade in the Army. It is little used today, and a commission of penologists has recommended abandoning it altogether, but until 1970 it was jammed with a fluctuating population of prisoners and guards in a nearly constant state of agitation.

Ccarlsson: added new photo

2012-07-04T22:58:25Z

added new photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 4 July 2012
Line 3:		Line 3:
	''by Peter Barnes''		''by Peter Barnes''

	[[Image:~~presidio$saluting~~-~~patriots~~.jpg]]		[[Image:1968-kezar-rally-against-Vietnam-War-w-Johnson-is-a-war-criminal-sign 7108.jpg]]

			'''1968 rally against the Vietnam War at Kezar Stadium.'''

	'''~~Saluting Patriots collage from ''Good Times''~~, ~~Oct. 29 1971.'~~''		''Photo: People's World collection, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University''

	Ten miles from the Treasure Island brig, on a wooded hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, sit two aging white stucco buildings surrounded by a high cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. This is San Francisco's other military prison, the Presidio stockade, perhaps the best-known stockade in the Army. It is little used today, and a commission of penologists has recommended abandoning it altogether, but until 1970 it was jammed with a fluctuating population of prisoners and guards in a nearly constant state of agitation.		Ten miles from the Treasure Island brig, on a wooded hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, sit two aging white stucco buildings surrounded by a high cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. This is San Francisco's other military prison, the Presidio stockade, perhaps the best-known stockade in the Army. It is little used today, and a commission of penologists has recommended abandoning it altogether, but until 1970 it was jammed with a fluctuating population of prisoners and guards in a nearly constant state of agitation.
Line 74:		Line 76:

	According to Article 94, "any person . . . who, ''with intent to usurp or override lawful military authority, ''refuses, in concert with any other person, to obey orders or otherwise do his duty or creates any violence or disturbance, is guilty of mutiny." (Emphasis added.) The sentence may be death. All twenty-seven men who sat down that morning were subsequently charged with this offense.		According to Article 94, "any person . . . who, ''with intent to usurp or override lawful military authority, ''refuses, in concert with any other person, to obey orders or otherwise do his duty or creates any violence or disturbance, is guilty of mutiny." (Emphasis added.) The sentence may be death. All twenty-seven men who sat down that morning were subsequently charged with this offense.

			[[Image:presidio$saluting-patriots.jpg]]

			'''Saluting Patriots collage from ''Good Times'', Oct. 29 1971.'''

	There followed the longest and one of the most controversial series of courts-martial in American history. Military justice being what it is, all but five -- three escaped to Canada and two were found guilty of lesser crimes -- were convicted of the charge and given sentences ranging from six months to sixteen years. It was not until more than a year later, when the slow process of military appeals had been completed, that the convictions were overturned and the sentences reduced to a maximum of one year, already served, for willful disobedience of a lawful order. The military appeals judge, Colonel Jacob Hagopian, used exceptionally strong language in reversing the court martial verdicts:		There followed the longest and one of the most controversial series of courts-martial in American history. Military justice being what it is, all but five -- three escaped to Canada and two were found guilty of lesser crimes -- were convicted of the charge and given sentences ranging from six months to sixteen years. It was not until more than a year later, when the slow process of military appeals had been completed, that the convictions were overturned and the sentences reduced to a maximum of one year, already served, for willful disobedience of a lawful order. The military appeals judge, Colonel Jacob Hagopian, used exceptionally strong language in reversing the court martial verdicts:

Ccarlsson: added to anti-war tour

2012-02-19T01:46:33Z

added to anti-war tour

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:46, 18 February 2012
Line 82:		Line 82:

	-- ''Peter Barnes'', excerpted from ''Pawns: The Plight of the Citizen-Soldier'', Alfred Knopf, New York: 1972.		-- ''Peter Barnes'', excerpted from ''Pawns: The Plight of the Citizen-Soldier'', Alfred Knopf, New York: 1972.

			<hr>

			[[Image:Foundsf-anti-war-icon.gif\|link=Presidio 27]] [[Presidio 27\| Continue Anti-War Tour]]