Julia M. Jackson Woods scrapbook, 1942-1947

Dear Julia[Indent]Always glad to hear from you. Happy that you are well & enjoying your training. I know you do enjoy all the beautiful scenes that are so different and it is grand to learn to know other people. [Indent]I am lika a old woman, who live in a shoe;o - with any husband three girls, it is some thing all the time to keep me busy. Two of the are graduate from Central in June. So you know, that means for me dto do all the making of their clothes- but I find I love it. Of course there are other people that keep me sewing too, since they know I am at Home now. I am now dressing to go down to my mother in law-who is so very sweet, she is fixing a birthday dinner for Dr Spillman & she wants me to help her a little. [Indent]So far Ia am very happy with my husband. [Indent]Mother & Sister sends Love. When you do come to Louisville again in the [illegible] by & by come to se us. Hoping to hear from you always Yours Truly Georgia.

HEY FOLKS! I JUST ARRIVED

DRAGGING MY ASS INTO Phoenix (handwritten) From a very dear friend Alexander

Valentine Greeting TO THE ONE I LOVE

A MOTHER'S DAY WISH For You First Card from My Paster lissrl his Nife Ft Huaehuea brig N.A.U.C - 1943

under the card is written "First Valentine uiu Ft Fluachuea brig N.A.U.C

[white paper with cross]

1942 1942 93D INFANTRY DIVISION Maj. Gen. Fred W. Miller, Commanding Brig. Gen. William Spence Brig. Gen. Walter Lauer Commanding, 93d Div. Arty. Asst. Div. Commander

Col. Stanley M. Prouty Chief of Staff

[image of cross] MASS RELIGIOUS SERVICE Divison Bowl Feb. 21, 1943 - 10:30 AM

CHAPLAINS OF THE 93D DIVISION John A. Deveaux - Division Chaplain Nimrod C. Calhoun -- 368th Infantry Regiment Edward R. Freeman -- 25th Infantry Regiment Elder B. Hicks -- 25th Infantry Regiment Oscar E. Holder -- 93d Infantry Division David J. Moore - 25th Inf. - Daniel L. Smith - 368th Inf Robert J. Smith - Div. F.A. - Walter S. White - 368th Inf Chas. T. Watkins 369th Inf - Albert Thompson - Div. F.A.

Prospective Draftee Wrtied to President

Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt President of the United States The White house Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:

By this time next year I expect to be dead. I am in good health and am of fairly sound mind. Should the array of forces as I now see them actually culminated in my death, my few friends will acknowledge my passing as a young American who died fighting fascism; as one who succumbed to the power and tyranny of the "master race."

I am not morbid as I write this - no more morbid than any of the millions of red blooded Americans who have taken the oath to lay down their lives if needs be to rid the world of the virulence of fascism and the hatred, ignorance and fears of the master race doctrine. The difference in my case and that of the others is this - which is my reason for writing you - I can't 'for the life of me' see the wisdom of going thousand of miles away to fight the enemy when 'the enemy' is killing my firends every day here at home. The enemy to which I refer consists of those forces, wherever they may be found, that militantly oppose the principles you outlined in the Atlantic Charter.

I am of draft age, but have not as yet been inducted into the army. It is painly evident to me, however, that when the 'United Nations' defeat the Axis powers, hundreds thousands of lives have yet to be expended to achieve the victory desired. This means more millions of men are needed in the army, including me. I shall accept my induction, with solemn resolution.

While I am in cvilian clothes, however, it is easy for those who advocate the master race doctrine in America to look down on me because I am a Negro. Americans are accustomed to looking down upon Negros even though they have to go through the tiresome and humorous process of walking on the stilts of self-flattery.

In my present clothes it is easy for the American fascists to think of me as being docile, ignorant, lazy, humorous, incorrigible and inferior. That is what everybody says I am. The white newspapers say it; the radio says it; the motion pictures say it and the schools say it - I have heard it so often that I have said it to myself at times; but I know better know! but even so, the Constitution gives Uncle Tom his birthright and the Atlantic Charter reaffirms his right to freedom.

But when I don the khaki of Uncle Sam's army, the act of dressing up as a SOLDIER OF FREEDOM will give me an adequate dose of dignity. In the unifrom of a United States soldier I shall refuse to accept the humiliation formerly heaped upon me by Hitler's henchmen in America. I shall come to realize the hull meaning of Patrick Henry's statement, "give my liberty or give me death." I shall be able to think of no better words to use if and when I am sent to a southern army camp, where seldom a week passes that does not see some Negro Soldiers of Freedom killed because they had the courage to stand up and say that human freedom in Germany is the same as human freedom in Georgia. After I take the oath and

it to myself at times; but I know better know! but even so, the Constitution gives Uncle Tom his birthright and the Atlantic Charter reaffirms his right to freedom.

But when I don the khaki of Uncle Sam's army, the act of dressing up as a SOLDIER OF FREEDOM will give me an adequate dose of dignity. In the unifrom of a United States soldier I shall refuse to accept the humiliation formerly heaped upon me by Hitler's henchmen in America. I shall come to realize the hull meaning of Patrick Henry's statement, "give my liberty or give me death." I shall be able to think of no better words to use if and when I am sent to a southern army camp, where seldom a week passes that does not see some Negro Soldiers of Freedom killed because they had the courage to stand up and say that human freedom in Germany is the same as human freedom in Georgia. After I take the oath and swear to defend the Constitution against all enemies, I will consider it my duty to defend it against the cruel advocates of the master race doctrine at home. In the khaki of the army I shall remember and appreciate your famous words that "we are not fighting this war for men to live together as master and slaves . . . We are fighting for the spirit of brotherhood." I shall repeat those lines to everyone who tries to impose the master race doctrine upon me. I shall stand on my two feet and say as did Patrick Henry, give me liberty at home or give me death at home. Don't take me to Deutchland to die; I prefer to die for freedom in Dixie.

I am not inviting death, because I have only begun to live. But there are thousands of Negro soldiers like me, who, knowing perhaps they must give up their lives for the cause of freedom have decided to make this greatest gift - this supreme act of charity - begin at home.

In other words, Mr. President, when I shall have been inducted into the armed aervices of this country I shall more persistently, more vigoursly and more definitely attack the foes of human liberty in the United States. I shall consider it my duty to do this at the risk of life and limb. I shall denounce with all me might the double standerd of "de-mock-racy" and I will correctly define democracy. I will read to them the Declaration of Independence and its equality clause. I will recite the Constiution and not leave out the thirteenth, forteenth and the fifteenth amendments. I will call their attention to your discussion of the four freedoms and tell them I am under oath to defend all of these. I will do all of this and more and when they advise me to be patient as they did when they thought I was Uncle Tom, I'll reply - patience, hell - this is war!

There is no other course left open to me, yet I know I will not prevail upon them to change. Even though I speak the turth my voice is too small to be heard. These American mongers of the master race doctrine will quickly and deftly silence me. They think that by killing me and all like me who speak out for full human freedom at home, they will have solved their problem. They will fall just as surely as Hitler has failed to do this identical thing in Europe. You know and I know that the ideal of human freedom cannot be squelched by killing the man in whose breast it is borne. But because my words will fall on the ears of true fascists I know they have already decided to "give me death" as they have given to many of my buddies before me