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Story
July 6, 1945
The Gary American
Gary, Lake County, Indiana
What is this article about?
Black Navy hero Frank Steger, survivor of USS Franklin, arrives in Birmingham on June 26 for war bond drive but is segregated from white crewmates due to racial discrimination, causing him distress and preventing joint appearances.
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BIRMINGHAM BARS
NEGRO SHIP HERO
FROM WHITE BUDDIES
BY EMORY O. JACKSON
BIRMINGHAM-(ANP) - Once of Alabama's own black heroes- a survivor of the U.S.S. Franklin- came to Birmingham June 26 in the interest of the lagging E bond sale in the seventh war loan drive, only to be denied a chance to appear with his white mates.
This black hero was P. O. 2/c Frank Steger, 22, of Tuscumbia, Ala., who volunteered for the navy June 2, 1941.
Petty Officer Steger was a member of the team of 10 survivors who came here Tuesday, June 26, with Capt. Leslie Gehres, USN.
Arriving at the Birmingham air base at 11:45 a. m. after leaving New York City at 7:55. P. O. Steger rode into town with his white buddies, was separated and turned over to A. G. Gaston, chairman of the Negro War Finance committee.
I rode with Mr. Gaston to the air base to meet the hero, but we were late. Steger was rushed to the headquarters of the white bond group and later sent down to Smith & Gaston, where I interviewed him.
No plans had been worked out at this time for letting the black Navy hero participate with his other survivor mates. A jumped up schedule was improvised for him to address a session of the Pythian Grand Lodge. It was suggested that he visit some of the war plants and speak to workers. This could not be arranged.
Steger told me he had let his captain know that he was not anxious to make the trip to Birmingham because he did not believe that he would be permitted to remain with the team as he had done in Syracuse, Buffalo, Boston and New Haven. He was troubled, jimcrow sick, spirit-broken at the way they ditched him without any consideration.
He was shown to the guest room at Smith & Gaston. No more was I to see him.
Wednesday, June 27, I went down to 19th street, heart of Birmingham's trading center, where the survivor crew appeared. I listened to the speeches, looked for the absent Steger, sweated in the crowd where there was no jimcrow.
I could not understand a situation like this, although I am familiar with segregation, discrimination and racial insanity.
Someone told me that Steger left Tuesday for his Tuscumbia home and said that he would be back for the bond-selling demonstration Wednesday. I tried to find the answer to the riddle, "why didn't Steger appear with his buddies?" Nobody who could tell me anything officially could be reached.
Steger said that 97 of the crew of 3,300 on the Franklin were Negroes, of which six were lost. He said that 1,800 of the crew had been listed dead and missing. It was March 19, 50 miles off the coast of Japan, when the 27,000 ton carrier ship was attacked, crippled, but came to port.
NEGRO SHIP HERO
FROM WHITE BUDDIES
BY EMORY O. JACKSON
BIRMINGHAM-(ANP) - Once of Alabama's own black heroes- a survivor of the U.S.S. Franklin- came to Birmingham June 26 in the interest of the lagging E bond sale in the seventh war loan drive, only to be denied a chance to appear with his white mates.
This black hero was P. O. 2/c Frank Steger, 22, of Tuscumbia, Ala., who volunteered for the navy June 2, 1941.
Petty Officer Steger was a member of the team of 10 survivors who came here Tuesday, June 26, with Capt. Leslie Gehres, USN.
Arriving at the Birmingham air base at 11:45 a. m. after leaving New York City at 7:55. P. O. Steger rode into town with his white buddies, was separated and turned over to A. G. Gaston, chairman of the Negro War Finance committee.
I rode with Mr. Gaston to the air base to meet the hero, but we were late. Steger was rushed to the headquarters of the white bond group and later sent down to Smith & Gaston, where I interviewed him.
No plans had been worked out at this time for letting the black Navy hero participate with his other survivor mates. A jumped up schedule was improvised for him to address a session of the Pythian Grand Lodge. It was suggested that he visit some of the war plants and speak to workers. This could not be arranged.
Steger told me he had let his captain know that he was not anxious to make the trip to Birmingham because he did not believe that he would be permitted to remain with the team as he had done in Syracuse, Buffalo, Boston and New Haven. He was troubled, jimcrow sick, spirit-broken at the way they ditched him without any consideration.
He was shown to the guest room at Smith & Gaston. No more was I to see him.
Wednesday, June 27, I went down to 19th street, heart of Birmingham's trading center, where the survivor crew appeared. I listened to the speeches, looked for the absent Steger, sweated in the crowd where there was no jimcrow.
I could not understand a situation like this, although I am familiar with segregation, discrimination and racial insanity.
Someone told me that Steger left Tuesday for his Tuscumbia home and said that he would be back for the bond-selling demonstration Wednesday. I tried to find the answer to the riddle, "why didn't Steger appear with his buddies?" Nobody who could tell me anything officially could be reached.
Steger said that 97 of the crew of 3,300 on the Franklin were Negroes, of which six were lost. He said that 1,800 of the crew had been listed dead and missing. It was March 19, 50 miles off the coast of Japan, when the 27,000 ton carrier ship was attacked, crippled, but came to port.
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Heroic Act
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Misfortune
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Racial Segregation
Navy Hero
Uss Franklin
War Bond Drive
Birmingham Discrimination
Jim Crow
Survivor Crew
What entities or persons were involved?
Frank Steger
Leslie Gehres
A. G. Gaston
Emory O. Jackson
Where did it happen?
Birmingham, Alabama
Story Details
Key Persons
Frank Steger
Leslie Gehres
A. G. Gaston
Emory O. Jackson
Location
Birmingham, Alabama
Event Date
June 26
Story Details
Black Navy petty officer Frank Steger, a 22-year-old survivor of the USS Franklin's attack off Japan on March 19, arrives in Birmingham with white crewmates for a war bond drive but is segregated and denied joint appearances due to racial discrimination, leading to his distress and separate scheduling.