When murders go unrecognized.
In the 60s my dad joined the national guard. He wanted to get a degree in chemistry and not end up working in the steel mill like his dad. Both of these things worked out for him. He ended up working for the EPA (which he and all his work buddies called "air pollution" for some reason, talk about bad branding)
Anyway it's the 60s and this handsome fellow is on a base for some basic training.
They got evenings on weekends off and could go into town.
On one of these hot summer weekends it's nearly the end of the camp. All of the young men were basically sick of training and things got a little wild in town with some of the young men drinking too much. My dad was in a bunk house near the gate. All of the black members of the guard were housed together. They got back just in time, being late for curfew was a big deal.
But once back in the house they noticed one young man was missing.
Let's call the missing man J.
So, my dad and his new friends in the guard are watching the gate waiting for J. to get back from town. Two hours late J. comes stumbling up the gravel drive to the little gate house. This gate house was staffed by two white guys, not much older than the new members.
They stop J. who is visibly wobbling and clearly not sober.
What everyone expected to happen was J. would get yelled at, and he might have to run laps or something the next morning. Really, curfew was a big deal, so it might be even worse than that.
But, now my dad and the other young men watched as an argument broke out. One of the white guards grabbed J. by the shirt. J. waved him off and tried to walk away. And then suddenly there was a gun shot.
In the house, the mood went from mild amusement at J. getting in trouble to silence. No one could hear what was being said but after some time a more senior member of the guard appeared. Medics removed J. body.
Training continued the next day as if nothing had happened.
The event was recorded as "insubordination" and "self - defense." The double insulation of the 60s and the military meant that the young man who murdered J faced no consequences. This whole incident was simply swallowed by time. But, my dad told me the story several times. Especially when stressing why you should be careful around cops, or guards or anyone with a gun and the swagger of authority.
Though, the more I think about it the more I want to go back and find out more. Maybe at least get some statements from the other witnesses. My dad claims it's impossible to do anything because, when in the military you aren't covered by the same legal protections as a citizen.
There isn't going to be any big movie or book about J. He's just another young man who disappeared.
I wonder if he had anyone to send his photo in uniform to?
