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_/G!s protest milits ary racism OT A ANN GAS A group of 236 black, white, Chicano and Indian Gl's--all of them members _of the 1731rd Airborne Brigade that recently returned from Vietname--have signed an Cpe letter to Defense Secretary Melvin Laird accusing the armed forces of racial Pdis$rimination, The GI's tried to present the letter to Laird earlier this month when - jhe Defense Secretary visited Fort Campbell on the Tennessee-Kentucky, border to / °. 4, ‘welcome their brigade home from Southeast Asia, Bui Gen, Williaa? rdeong, the ‘ij commander at Fort Campbell where the 173rd is now stationed, refused to allow the GI's to make the presentation, The Gis‘ letter asserted that “throughout our time in ’ the service we've seen minority group GI's discriminated against. In Vietnam that's been evidenced by higher casualty rates, Other tires it takes the form of slower . promotions, higher penalties for rules violations and the worse job assignments, We feel that the Army fosters racism and has purposely avoided dealing with the day-to-day problems of minority groups."' In a press conference at the fort, Laird told newsmen he had not seen the petition, but acknowledged that the armed forces are beset with serious racial problems, "These are difficult problems," he said. "They are people problems." The sccretary also contended, however, that progress has been made toward their solution. "We have made more progress in this area than any administration in American history," asserted, and he said his source for that opinion is civ rights leader Roy Milkins of the NAACP. , to eee oo ro : '¢ Another black leader who ie less impressed with the administration! record, however, is Congressman Ronald V. fliums, a Democrat from Berkeley, Calif, (See Race Relations Reporter, Vol. JI, No 5), In an eight-page telegram to the protesting GI's of the 173rd, Dellums told thern he supported their efforts to end racism inthe armed services, to secure full constitutional rights for GI's and ty’ bring about a complete withdrawal of U. S. forces from Vietnam. Pvt. Mike acta re of Los Angeles read Deliums’ teleyram to the cheers of abovt 59 GI's who were demonstrating peacefully outside Fort Campbell following Laird's departure _on Sept. 2. The group was predominanily white, but it also contained a healthy . sprinkling of blacks, Spauish-Americans and Ir. Al McIpii re explained to RRIC that while non-white Gla may aN a moat Cel W/) Y coe Hie AD. most of the problems that concera-him are cormon to soldiers Traces, hel are sending us to Vietnam to get ourselves killed for absolutely nd$hio€J" het@hhd. po a complete farce. And if we do make it back and try to say anything = POUL Atel ‘weget hacsled hy Re lifers and investigated by the police.’ As Meintire was talk] iO shag } cameras circled the demonstration, carloade cf Tennessee “State te Troopers CALLA nearby, and two long-haired men. whom the protestors ea oe pi J g ; paid w "aoe Be bine KihLinalyet tx. listened intently, * oF Fo vey GtosT: Mage 2ONGT pee =