What Branch Of Service Was Jackie Robinson In

Ron is a student of African American history. His writing highlights the stories of people who overcame prejudice to achieve smashing things.

One of the nearly famous incidents in American sports history occurred when Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was looking for an African-American actor to integrate Major League baseball. That function would require a human being who could take tremendous abuse without hitting back. When the man he selected asked if Mr. Rickey was looking for a Negro who was afraid to fight back, Branch Rickey famously replied that he was looking for a homo "with guts enough non to fight back."

Jackie Robinson: a Pioneer Who Paid a Huge Price

Jackie Robinson became that homo. He made the commitment Branch Rickey asked of him, that for iii years he would refuse to retaliate for all the racial abuse he would inevitably receive. In the process of carrying out that commitment, he changed non only Major League baseball game, only the nation.

But the price he paid by his refusal to retaliate for the abuse heaped upon him is beyond calculation. What that cost must've been begins to become apparent when you realize that refusing to fight was the exact contrary of Jackie Robinson's nature. He had been a vociferous and even angry fighter against racism all his life.

It was that very determination to combat racism, and never give in to it, that led him to turn down to move to the dorsum of the bus when a racist motorcoach driver demanded that he do and so. And that refusal led to 2nd Lt. Jack Roosevelt Robinson being court-martialed by the The states Ground forces in 1944.

Jackie Robinson Enters the Us Army

Jackie Robinson had been drafted in 1942, condign part of the first large group of African-Americans ever inducted into the U.s. Army. In 1940 less than one percentage of men serving in the United States armed forces were black. When the nation began a massive mobilization upon its entry into World War II, it speedily became clear that the Army was sick-equipped to handle the influx of African-Americans that followed.

Marine recruits at Camp Lejeune obstacle course, 1943

National Archives (public domain)

In its perplexity about how to deal with the large number of black recruits it at present had on his hands, the Army fabricated some fundamental errors. All of the new African-American soldiers were assigned to segregated units under the command of white officers. In 1940 there had been simply five black officers (three of them chaplains) in the United States Regular army. The Ground forces was not very interested in having more than.

Under the theory that Southerners would best know how to deal with "Negro recruits," many of the blackness units were commanded by Southern white officers. Those officers usually turned out to be men who, not unnaturally, were dedicated to maintaining the Jim Crow traditions of the Due south.

Information technology took the Regular army some time to realize, to its dismay, that its chosen strategy had some built-in bug. More than 1 third of the new African-American recruits came from the North. And, as a War Section written report acknowledged, these new soldiers lacked "the appearance of servility traditionally associated with the Southern Negro."

2nd Lieutenant Jackie Robinson in 1943

Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Jackie's Kickoff Come across With Racism in the War machine

Jackie Robinson certainly fit that mold. Initially assigned for training to Fort Riley Kansas, Jackie quickly began to demonstrate his leadership abilities. With three years of college at UCLA, Jackie was quickly promoted to corporal and aspired to become an officer. But he constitute that no African-Americans were being admitted to the Officer Candidate Schoolhouse at Fort Riley. Jackie had developed a relationship with heavyweight champion Joe Louis, who had influence with the Secretary of War'south African-American civilian aide, Truman Gibson. An investigation was quietly conducted, and presently Jackie Robinson and several other African-Americans were admitted to the OCS.

In January 1943 Jackie was deputed a second lieutenant in the Us Army. He had won his get-go encounter with the institutional racism that was rife in the military. But there was much more to come up.

Fort Riley was a thoroughly segregated facility, and Jackie, now a platoon leader and the morale officer of his unit, made strenuous objections to many of the segregated practices in that command. One characteristic incident occurred when Jackie, who had been an All-America football player at UCLA, refused to play for the post football team without too being allowed to play on the all-white baseball team. His commanding officeholder reminded him that he could exist ordered to play football. Jackie replied, aye, that was then. He could be ordered to play, but he could not be ordered to play well.

Jackie Is Assigned to a Segregated Post in the S

In early 1944 Lieutenant Robinson was assigned to Army camp Hood in Texas, attached to the 761st Tank Battalion. This all-black unit of measurement would before long be headed overseas, where, nether the control of Gen. George Patton, it would distinguish itself in the Battle of the Bulge. But at Military camp Hood (now Fort Hood) there were dissimilar battles to exist fought.

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Jackie Refuses to Motility to the Back of the Bus

Jackie was returning to campsite from a medical date in town. Ironically, he had been trying to get a medical waiver for an ankle injury and then he could accompany his unit when they shipped out for combat overseas.

When he got on the jitney he saw Virginia Jones, the calorie-free-skinned wife of a swain officer, seated virtually halfway back. He sabbatum down beside her. After a few blocks, the bus driver, Milton Reneger, turned and demanded that the Lieutenant motility to a seat further toward the dorsum of the bus. Jackie Robinson refused. Equally Jackie'due south attorney recalls, when Reneger persisted, Jackie told him "yous go bulldoze the bus, I'll sit where I want to sit down."

In his autobiography, Jackie records what was going on in his mind at the fourth dimension.

I was aware of the fact that recently Joe Louis and Ray Robinson had refused to move to the backs of buses in the Southward. The resulting publicity had caused the Ground forces to put out regulations disallowment racial discrimination on any vehicle operating on an Regular army post. Knowing about these regulations, I had no intention of being intimidated into moving to the back of the bus.

As Jackie recalls, when the bus reached the last stop on the postal service, the driver jumped out and quickly returned with his dispatcher and some other drivers. The emotional temperature of the encounter began to rise equally the dispatcher, a homo by the name of Beverly Younger, referred to Jackie to his face using a highly offensive racial epithet. A minor crowd of whites, both civilians and military personnel, and all quite hostile to Jackie, quickly formed. The N-discussion was freely used.

Soon, ii military policeman arrived. They asked, politely, if Lieutenant Robinson would accompany them to the military police headquarters. He agreed, and along with nearly of the oversupply, information technology seemed, set out for the station.

Jackie Is Provoked by Racial Epithets

In one case arrived at the building, even greater confusion ensued. An MP met them, asking if they had the "Northward- lieutenant." The aforementioned extremely offensive term was used several times past the MP Sergeant, until Jackie finally announced, "if you telephone call me a 'N- lieutenant' 1 more time or make reference to me as 'Northward- lieutenant,' I'm going to interruption your back." The MP Sergeant apparently did non utilise that term again.

The confusion continued as the Assistant Provost Marshal, Helm Gerald Bear, attempted to question supposed witnesses. All the whites, noncombatant and war machine, uniformly denounced Jackie'southward beliefs on the coach and at the police facility. Jackie, feeling himself surrounded by hostile forces, vehemently contradicted their accounts. In that location is some dispute about exactly how events played out from that point, merely eventually Captain Bear, accusing Jackie of displaying a "sloppy and contemptuous" demeanor, placed him under abort.

A Court-Martial Is Ordered

According to Jackie'due south attorney, Bear was so enraged by Jackie's attitude that "he filed every kind of complaint yous can imagine." Robinson was defendant of showing disrespect toward a superior officer and declining to obey a direct control. These charges were considered serious enough to warrant a general courtroom-martial.

Jackie, now confined to quarters, continued his fight. He contacted the NAACP, and besides wrote to the War Section's noncombatant adjutant, Truman Gibson, who had been instrumental in securing Jackie's original appointment to Officer Candidate Schoolhouse at Fort Riley.

One of Jackie's fellow officers anonymously wrote to the NAACP saying, "the whole business was cooked upwards every bit insubordination. Robinson's predicament amounted to a typical effort to intimidate Negro officers and enlisted men" at Camp Hood.

In his letter to Gibson, Jackie admitted that he had used strong language during the encounter at the police station. Merely, he said, it was only after being heavily provoked past the continued utilise of racially incendiary language toward him. He continued, "I don't want any unfavorable publicity for myself or the Army, just I believe in fair play."

Although he had initially expected the NAACP to supply him with a lawyer, Jackie eventually accepted the services of the defence force attorney appointed by the Ground forces. He was Captain William A. Cline, a white officer from Texas.

Interviewed in 2012 at the age of 101, Capt. Cline all the same had vivid memories of Jackie and his case. Initially, when Jackie told him that he expected a lawyer from the NAACP, Capt. Cline told Jackie that was good because he came from only about every bit far Due south equally y'all could get! But, when Jackie did somewhen ask Capt. Cline to stand for him, the Army lawyer got correct on the case and did a very effective task.

Jackie's Commanding Officer Refuses to Sign Courtroom Martial Papers

The conclusion to court-martial Jackie ran into an immediate snag. Lt. Col. Paul Bates, the commanding officer of the 761st, refused to sign court-martial papers. Co-ordinate to the recollections of Capt. Cline, Col. Bates felt there was no ground to the charges. He considered Robinson to exist an exemplary officer, and during the trial would exist his greatest supporter.

After Col. Bates refused to sanction the courtroom-martial, Jackie was transferred from the 761^st to the 758^th Tank Battalion. The court-martial papers were and then signed. Although the transfer had already been in the works earlier the jitney incident took place, Col. Bates' wife, Taffy, confirms that Jackie was "transferred from 761^st, because Paul refused to sign court martial papers."

1945 interview in the Army's "Yank" magazine includes Jackie's time at Camp Hood, but does not mention the court martial. — 1945 interview in the Regular army's "Yank" magazine includes Jackie's time at Camp Hood, but does non mention the court martial.

Bob Stone via Wikimedia (Public Domain)

To read the "Yank" Jackie Robinson interview, you tin download the pdf.

The Trial

By the time the courtroom-martial began on August 2, 1944, the charges against Jackie were significantly different than what might accept been expected. All mention of the bus incident itself was suppressed, and the charges concerned only Robinson's behavior at the law station. Obviously, the prosecution'due south intent was to keep the racially motivated provocations that underlay the African American officer's beliefs out of the record.

However, by adept questioning, Jackie's chaser, Capt. Cline, was not only able to bring in references to the events that acquired the initial confrontation, just also to demonstrate inconsistencies in the stories told by prosecution witnesses. Significantly, Cline's questioning of Helm Comport showed that the Assistant Provost Marshall, who originally filed the charges of insubordination and disobedience to orders, could not ostend that he had actually issued whatsoever actionable orders to the Lieutenant. In the absence of definite and direct orders, the charge of defiance to orders became moot.

An "Fantabulous" Officer

Probably the biggest factor in the outcome of the trial was the testimony of Jackie's commanding officer in the 761^st, Col. Bates. He forcefully stated his assessment that Lt. Robinson was an officeholder of splendid grapheme, demeanor, job performance, and reputation in his command. That assessment was echoed past all of Robinson'south superiors. These officers, all of them white, testified that Jackie was "held in high regard" in the 761^st. Col. Bates volunteered the information that he thought so highly of Robinson as a leader, that, despite the ex-football player's talocrural joint injury that would ordinarily preclude his deployment, Bates had worked difficult to keep the young Lieutenant with the battalion when it deployed overseas for combat.

What the Case Was Actually All About

In his own testimony, Jackie explained what had motivated him as he responded to the epithets hurled at him during the incident. He said,

My grandmother was a slave. She told me a N- was a depression, uncouth person, and pertains to no 1 in item; simply I don't consider that I am low and uncouth. I am a Negro, just not a Due north-.

Jackie's chaser, Helm Cline, made articulate in his summation what this instance was really all virtually. It was, he said, "simply a situation in which a few individuals sought to vent their bigotry on a Negro they considered 'uppity' because he had the audacity to seek to practice rights that belonged to him as an American and as a soldier."

Jackie Is Acquitted

The ix-member panel hearing the instance, all combat officers, plain agreed with Helm Cline's assessment. They unanimously acquitted Jackie Robinson of all charges.

In November of 1944, based on the talocrural joint injury, Jackie received an honorable belch from the Army due to "concrete disqualification."

A year after, in 1945, Jackie Robinson was selected by Branch Rickey to break the Major League colour bulwark. In doing so, he would be subjected to the nearly vile racial invective imaginable. This time, fighting racism would crave that he refuse to be provoked by the slurs.

It is, to my listen, a measure of the courage and commitment of this human, who was willing to risk his military career and even prison rather than give in to the evil of racism, that for iii years he took all the abuse heaped on him in every Major League ballpark he played in. Past doing and so, perhaps at the cost, as many believe, of shortening his own life, Jackie Robinson forever changed not just a sport, only a nation.

Mya on February 20, 2019:

Great and articulate commodity!

Ronald E Franklin (writer) from Mechanicsburg, PA on November 30, 2013:

Thank you so much, Coolpapa, for reading. I appreciate your encouraging words.

Coolpapa from Florida on Nov xxx, 2013:

Well written, informative and inspirational. Thanks for sharing this with us!

Ronald E Franklin (writer) from Mechanicsburg, PA on September 13, 2013:

Cheers, Maggie. I never thought well-nigh the fact that the prohibition of mixing the races on a double-decker worked both ways. It only reinforces how irrational the segregationist mindset was in every way.

Maggie Crooks on September 13, 2013:

I knew virtually the court martial, only non the motorcoach incident. Astonishing history lesson here. Give thanks yous for writing it. Jackie Robinson was an amazing human.

Lots of people don't realize it, but whites were discouraged from riding in the back of the motorbus. When I was younger I wanted to ride in the back because all the kids seemed to be having fun. I never noticed that they were all black. I was told I couldn't get dorsum there, tho I'm not certain anyone e'er explained why.

Ronald E Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on May 19, 2013:

Thank you, platinumOwl4. I recollect Satchel'due south story is also a fascinating one. Just call up of the records he'd probably hold if he could take pitched in the majors during his prime.

platinumOwl4 on May 19, 2013:

Jackie had courage. However, I am a Satchel Folio blazon of guy. I discovered something I didn't know previously. I was unaware of the court-martial and his friendship with Joe Louis.

Ronald E Franklin (writer) from Mechanicsburg, PA on May 07, 2013:

Thanks, smcopywrite. I think Jackie'due south is a very inspiring story.

smcopywrite from all over the web on May 07, 2013:

right on time with this one. thanks for giving united states and then much more on one of americans brave heroes. nice hub

Ronald E Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on May 07, 2013:

Cheers, and so much vocalcoach. Jackie's story is one that needs to be remembered today precisely because of his courage.

Audrey Hunt from Pahrump NV on May 07, 2013:

I am outraged when I hear virtually "the back of the bus" stories. A terrible injustice. My father was a huge Jackie Robinson fan. Robinson is a hero with great courage.

Thank you so much for sharing this story. Appreciate information technology!

Ronald East Franklin (writer) from Mechanicsburg, PA on May 03, 2013:

I think you're right near Jackie being a great athlete. Baseball wasn't even his best sport! And you're also right most Rachel. She is a very classy lady. Thanks, Kosmo.

Kelley Marks from Sacramento, California on May 03, 2013:

Overall, Jackie was 1 of the greatest athletes of the era. I also like Rachel Robinson. Though now elderly, she is even so pretty, classy and has a tremendous personality. Afterward!

Ronald Eastward Franklin (writer) from Mechanicsburg, PA on April 30, 2013:

I call back Jackie had a unique combination of great character and great baseball skills. Both were required for the historic role he played. Cheers for reading, Kosmo.

Kelley Marks from Sacramento, California on Apr 30, 2013:

Being a Dodger fan, I know a lot about Jackie Robinson, although I must acknowledge I wasn't familiar with Jackie'south "back of the bus" issue. Expert for Jackie - he was definitely the guy to break the "colour bulwark," wasn't he? Later on!

Ronald E Franklin (writer) from Mechanicsburg, PA on April 26, 2013:

Thanks for reading, Marquis. Whatever racial designation Jackie might prefer, I'm sure if he was alive today he would be in the midst of the fight to overcome the issues you mention. What he achieved against great odds in his generation should be inspiration for what tin be accomplished in ours.

Marquis from Ann Arbor, MI on April 26, 2013:

Jackie Robinson would have objected to beingness called "African American." He was also a patriot. In spite of what was going on, he pulled through. He would be pretty upset at what the Black Community has become today.

Out of spousal relationship rate, homicide rates, rates of STD's, Black on Black criminal offence, Black High School and college driblet out charge per unit and the Black incarceration rates are appalling.

Ronald Eastward Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on April 18, 2013:

Thanks, MsDora. You are so right - this kind of case and role model is desperately needed today. I hope a lot of youngsters are taken to come across "42" and are inspired to learn more about Jackie Robinson's life.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean area on April eighteen, 2013:

This is good stuff for all the little boys to read in history form. Really, it is good for everyone who wants to larn virtually "excellent character, demeanor, job performance, and reputation." I'm inspired and voting upwardly.

Ronald E Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on Apr xvi, 2013:

Cheers, Christian. Really a TV movie was done in 1990 starring Andre Braugher every bit Jackie. It seems non to take fabricated a large splash, but the viewer reviews I've seen (merely 5 of them) were all very adept. Then I'chiliad with you; I hope we do become a major film about this.

Christian from Lancaster, PA on April 16, 2013:

This is wonderful. I recollect this is much ameliorate than his baseball game story. This is more interesting and it should exist told. Mayhap they should practise a prequel later the 42 movie is done

Ronald E Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on April 15, 2013:

Thanks so much, mactavers. I'yard looking forward to seeing the film, which seems to exist getting first-class reviews. I hope it volition help give a new generation inspiration to display the "force and moral fiber" that is and then desperately needed today.

Ronald E Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on April 15, 2013:

Thanks, phoenix2327. It's surprising to me that this story isn't better known. You are certainly correct about his backbone, which caused him to fight back against tremendous odds at Camp Hood, and to non fight dorsum on the baseball field. A truly remarkable American.

mactavers on April 15, 2013:

Wonderful Hub. My hubby and I went to come across the moving picture 42 last Sat virtually Jackie Robinson and loved it. I wish Hollywood would brand more than films with characters of strength and moral fiber similar Mr Rickey and Mr and Mrs Robinson.

Zulma Burgos-Dudgeon from United Kingdom on Apr 15, 2013:

What a fabulous history lesson. This is an engaging hub that held my attending throughout. I knew Mr. Robinson was the first African-American play in the majors, but I never knew about his military background. A very mettlesome homo.