Army apologises 28 black soldiers for wrongful conviction

Washington, July 28 (PTI) The US army has formally apologised to 28 black soldiers, who were wrongly convicted of rioting and lynching of an Italian prisoner of World War II inSeattle about six decades ago.

"The Army is genuinely sorry. I am genuinely sorry," assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserveaffairs Ronald James was quoted as saying by Seattle Times.

"We had not done right by these soldiers," James saidSaturday, besides calling the convictions a "grievous wrong".

The soldiers were convicted in 1945, a year after a clash between them and the Italian prisoners of war left one person dead and several others injured at Seattle's Fort Lawton ArmyReserve Centre.

Relatives of the soldiers thronged the Seattle's old Fort Lawton parade grounds Saturday and joined officials to hearJames give the apology before hundreds of people.

Of the 28 soldiers, only two are alive. One of them, Roy Montgomery of Detroit did not travel to Seattle. The other, Samuel Snow of Leesburg missed the ceremony because he washospitalised.

Besides, the soldiers' dishonourable discharges were changed to honourable discharges. Apart from this, back pay was awarded to the two survivors and to the families of thedead for their time in the prison.

In total, the families of five veterans were present atSaturday's ceremony.

Forty-three black soldiers had been charged with rioting,three of whom were also charged with the murder of PoW.

In the ensuing trial 28 black soldiers were convicted.

However, all the convictions were overturned only in October, 2007. PTI RRD