Library - Reading Room
Supporting Materials for Sir! No Sir!
FTA
The Presidio Stockade is not alone in its rebellion against oppressive military authority. On Webesday, the seventh of May, the prisoners at the stockade at Fort Ord staged a sitdown. This event was well timed for it coincided with the "on-the-spot" inspection demanded by members of Congress. The inspection was not quite spontaneous; everyone at the stockade, including the prisoners, knew at least a month in advance. The general uptighthess that precedes any military inspection was in it's greatest glory. The usual "adjusting" of records was the order of the day. The atmosphere was more and more tense as the day approached. Rules regarding prisoner conduct were enforced, strengthened and enforced again. On the day of the arrival of the investigating team the prisoners were told to fall outside after lunch at the position of parade rest. Not wishing to remain in such an uncomfortable posture, several prisoners left for the latrine. Th. idea spread. Soon there were close to eighty prisoners sitting around and talking. Nothing was done until it was time for the afternoon formation. Then, at one o'clock, Captain Bernhard Wolpers, the Training Officer, walked over to the group and began calling on individuals to leave. Not wishing a charge of refusing a direct order these people left. After that there was no reason for the gathering to continue ad the prisoners left for the formation.
An interesting factor in the sitdown was that it was interracial. Blacks, browns and whites were joined together in an expression of dissatisfaction with the military command. But how long this will continue is not known. Racial tensions are on the rise and there are fears that that will be another riot at the stockade such as the one last November.
As You Were, no. 3