“This merely was the suitable determination,” stated Parker. “I imagine acknowledging and addressing previous injustice solely makes us stronger, as a result of it brings us ever nearer to the beliefs upon which our nation was based.”
The ‘Philadelphia 15’ had been fifteen African-American Sailors assigned to USS Philadelphia who, in October 1940, authored a letter revealed within the Pittsburgh Courier describing the racial discrimination, abuse, and incapacity to advance into different, higher-ranking positions. They urged African-American moms to not let their sons be a part of the Navy and had been subsequently discharged due to the letter with “unhealthy conduct discharges,” or “undesirable” fees.
After thorough evaluate of the case by management inside the DON, it was deemed applicable and essential to right the document and improve the discharges of those Sailors.
“The document contained proof that instructed the race of those sailors might have been an element that impermissibly motivated a number of the choices made by the Navy concerning these sailors,” stated Bobby Hogue, Principal Deputy ASN M&RA. “That was sufficient for me to provoke the case.”
If any relations of the Philadelphia 15 want to attain out to the DON for future notifications on the subject or extra info, please attain out to PTGN_CHINFOnewsdesk@navy.mil or 703-697-5342.
Members of the Philadelphia 15:
Ernest Bosley, Arval Perry Cooper, Shannon Goodwin, Theodore Hansbrough, Byron Johnson, Floyd Owens, John Ponder, James Ponder, James Porter, George Rice, Otto Robinson, Floyd St. Clair, Fred Tucker, Robert Turner, Jesse Watford
