[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 19 (Monday, February 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO AWARD TO JOHNSON C. WHITTAKER HIS 
     COMMISSION OF SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY POSTHUMOUSLY

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                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 28, 1994

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing a bill today that will 
correct an injustice which was brought to my attention by the filming 
of ``Assault at West Point'' in my district. This movie details the 
terrible events surrounding the stripping of Johnson C. Whittaker's 
commission.
  Mr. Whittaker was born a slave in 1858, but he worked hard and became 
one of the first black cadets at West Point in 1876. For most of his 
time at the U.S. Military Academy he was the only black student, which 
led to his almost complete ostracization from the corps of cadets, many 
of whom did not want to see him receive his commission.
  On a night before exams, three hooded students tied Whittaker to his 
bed, beat him severely, then left him in the barracks unconscious and 
bleeding.
  A court of inquiry was established by the school administration. The 
result was a court martial on the grounds that Whittaker had inflicted 
the wounds on himself in order to avoid taking a philosophy exam. He 
was found guilty and was thrown out of the Academy.
  It was 2 years before President Arthur reversed the conviction on the 
grounds that the court martial had been illegal, but Whittaker was 
formally discharged by the Secretary of War because he had failed the 
philosophy exam 2 years earlier.
  Despite these incredible setbacks, Mr. Whittaker had a very 
successful life. He practiced law in South Carolina, and later he 
taught in Oklahoma and at the University of South Carolina.
  Although Mr. Whittaker is no longer alive, I believe that we owe him, 
as well as his descendants, both vindication and justice. Therefore, my 
bill requests that the President posthumously award Johnson Chestnut 
Whittaker his commission of second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
  I am proud that Johnson C. Whittaker's story is now being told and 
that the dramatization of these events was filmed in my district at 
Virginia Military Institute in Lexington and in the city of Staunton. I 
am hopeful that this film will serve as the impetus to fix an injustice 
long left uncorrected. I ask my colleagues to help right a wrong by 
supporting this bill.

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