[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 12, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H14357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             {time}   2115
                           FORT BRAGG ATTACKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jones). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, today I wrote a letter to Attorney General 
Janet Reno, and I would like to share its contents with my colleagues. 
I wrote:

       I am certain you have heard about the slaying of an 
     African-American couple by three Caucasian soldiers from Fort 
     Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
       These senseless slayings were apparently random, inasmuch 
     as the slain couple was merely walking along a Fayetteville 
     street and the three accused soldiers did not know them. The 
     incident, however, raises new questions about the presence of 
     radical and extreme groups within the United States military.
       I must, therefore, urge that a thorough Justice and Defense 
     Department investigation be undertaken.
       At least one of the three soldiers held white supremacist 
     views and was known to display a Nazi flag over his barracks 
     bed and to keep a 9mm handgun in his locker. I understand 
     that a bomb-making manual was also found in his room. More 
     disturbingly, all of the suspects appear to be members of a 
     right-wing group called the ``Special Forces Underground,'' 
     which publishes a magazine called the ``Resister.''
       Members of this group have been seen wearing black boots 
     with white laces, red suspenders flight jackets and chains, 
     an unofficial uniform.
       I also understand from news sources that the accused 
     soldiers engaged the unsuspecting couple, harassed them and 
     when the couple responded, they were both shot in the head, 
     assassination style.
       The brutal and random nature of the slayings has sent a 
     chill throughout Fayetteville and has left many residents 
     puzzled, bewildered and greatly concerned.
       Beyond concern, however, are the many questions that are 
     left in the wake of this terrible incident, questions that 
     can only be answered through an official inquiry. We must 
     learn how widespread is the membership of this group.
       Is the group confined to Fort Bragg or is it organized in 
     other locations in the Army or other branches of the 
     military? Were superiors at Fort Bragg aware of the activity 
     of this group?
       Did these superiors have any advance warning of this 
     group's violent tendencies and could their response have been 
     more swift and effective enough to avoid these killings? If 
     they did not have advance warning or knowledge, why didn't 
     they?
       And, are there legitimate policies and practices missing 
     that could discourage these groups? Has the Army worked with 
     local law enforcement and local government to gather 
     intelligence on such groups?
       Again, I urge you to take whatever steps are necessary to 
     insure that a Justice and Defense Department investigation is 
     undertaken and that members of Congress are informed of the 
     results of that investigation.
       I look forward to hearing from you soon.

  Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert the letter into the Record.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, December 12, 1995.
     Hon. Janet Reno,
     Attorney General of the United States,
     U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
       Dear Attorney General Reno: I am certain you have heard 
     about the slaying of an African-American couple by three 
     Caucasian soldiers from Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North 
     Carolina. These senseless slayings were apparently random, 
     inasmuch as the slain coupe was merely walking along a 
     Fayetteville street and the three accused soldiers did not 
     know them. The incident, however, raises new questions about 
     the presence of radical and extreme groups within the United 
     States military. I must, therefore, urge that a thorough 
     Justice and Defense Department investigation be undertaken.
       At least one of the three soldiers held white supremacist 
     views and was known to display a Nazi flag over his barracks 
     bed and to keep a 9mm handgun in his locker. I understand 
     that a bomb-making manual was also found in his room. More 
     disturbingly, all of the suspects appear to be members of a 
     right-wing group called the ``Special Forces Underground,'' 
     which publishes a magazine called the ``Resister.'' Members 
     of this group have been seen wearing black boots with white 
     laces, red suspenders, flight jackets and chains, an 
     unofficial uniform.
       I also understand from news sources that the accused 
     soldiers engaged the unsuspecting couple, harassed them and 
     when the couple responded, they were both shot, in the head, 
     assassination style. The brutal and random nature of the 
     slayings has sent a chill throughout Fayetteville and has 
     left many residents puzzled, bewildered and greatly 
     concerned.
       Beyond concern, however, are the many questions that are 
     left in the wake of this terrible incident, questions that 
     can only be answered through an official inquiry. We must 
     learn how widespread is the membership of this group. Is the 
     group confined to Fort Bragg or is it organized in other 
     locations in the Army or other branches of the military? Were 
     superiors at Fort Bragg aware of the activity of this group? 
     Did these superiors have any advance warning of this group's 
     violent tendencies and could their response have been more 
     swift and effective enough to avoid these killings? If they 
     did not have advance warning or knowledge, why didn't they? 
     And, are there legitimate policies and practices missing that 
     could discourage these groups? Has the Army worked with local 
     law enforcement and local government to gather intelligence 
     on such groups?
       Again, I urge you to take whatever steps are necessary to 
     insure that a Justice and Defense Department investigation is 
     undertaken and that members of Congress are informed of the 
     results of that investigation. I look forward to hearing from 
     you soon.
       Thank you for your consideration and cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eva M. Clayton,
     Member of Congress.

                          ____________________