#title Black GIs Convicted #author Fifth Estate Collective #SORTauthors Fifth Estate Collective; #date 1968 #source [[https://www.fifthestate.org/archive/63-october-3-16-1968/black-gis-convicted]] #lang en #pubdate 2017-06-17 #notes Fifth Estate #63, October 3–16, 1968 FORT HOOD, Tex.—A court-martial found five black soldiers, including two Detroiters, guilty of refusing to obey an order growing out of a demonstration against possible anti-riot duty at the Democratic National Convention. The specific charge was failing to report for reveille. A sixth soldier, Pvt. Ronald McCoy, 23, of Philadelphia was acquitted. Convicted and sentenced to six months confinement, forfeiture of $63 a month pay and reduction to the lowest enlisted rank were Pfc. Reginald Thompson, 21, and Spec. 5 Rudolph Bell, 20, both of Detroit; Pvt. Donald Bias, 21, of Oakland, Calif.; and Pfc. Charles Arline, 24, of Jacksonville. Fla. Pvt. Steve Suswell, 20, of Greenville, S.C., drew three months in confinement $63 forfeiture of pay a month and reduction to the lowest rank.