ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604290059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Five decades after they fought, seven black war heroes are in line to get the Medal of Honor, America's highest military decoration.
The names of the seven, who were among 1.2 million blacks who served in World War II, have been sent to President Clinton, who says the honors are long overdue.
``The president believes these are honors that should have been bestowed a long time ago,'' Deputy White House Press Secretary Ginny Terzano said Saturday. ``It's doing the right thing to give the Medal of Honor to them now.''
U.S. News & World Report says in its May 6 issue, on newsstands Monday, that the combat records of the seven nominees met the standards of a special Army Senior Officer Awards Board. The nominees were identified in a 15-month study conducted by a team of military historians, assembled by Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., the magazine reported.
The list also has been forwarded to Congress, which must waive the time limit for awarding World War II medals. It expired in 1952. The waivers are included in the fiscal 1997 defense authorization bill.
The nominees are: 1st Lt. Vernon J. Baker, 76, of St. Maries, Idaho, the only one of the seven men still alive; 1st Lt. Charles L. Thomas of Detroit; Pvt. George Watson of Birmingham, Ala.; Staff Sgt. Edward A. Carter Jr. of Los Angeles; 1st Lt. John R. Fox of Boston; Pfc. Willy F. James Jr. of Kansas City, Kan.; and Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers of Tecumseh, Okla.
Baker said Saturday he's happy about the recognition but wishes the other six could have been honored in their lifetimes.
``It's been late, but it's never too late to say it was a job well done,'' he told The Associated Press. ``I'm so very, very sorry that they're not here.''
He said he has gotten over past mistreatment.
``Now I think the new generation of the American people and the power structure realize we're all in the same boat and if we all swing an oar, we can accomplish much, much more than we did before.''
The historians reviewed archives and interviewed veterans to find out why no black received any of the 432 Medals of Honor given to World War II soldiers.
The study found no evidence that any black soldier in World War II was ever nominated for the Medal of Honor, although commanders, comrades and archival records indicate that at least four of the seven nominees had been recommended, U.S. News reported. Nor did it find official evidence of racial bias in that time's award policy, but the study's authors say the political climate and common Army practices guaranteed that no black soldier would receive the award.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB