The commanding general of the 7th U.S. Army, based in West Germany, has ordered the army’s inspector general to conduct a formal investigation of U.S. Army officers who recently wore Ku Klux Klan uniforms and displayed Klan symbols, it was reported here today.
Protests had been made with Secretary of Defense McNamara by the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. The JWV said that although the officers considered the robe-wearing and cross-burning a prank, it was “a grave disservice to our national image,” especially in view of recent events in Alabama. It was also pointed out that such conduct by U.S. officers did not inspire confidence of American military personnel of Negro, Jewish, and Catholic backgrounds.
A Defense Department spokesman announced that the inspector general’s investigation is now in progress. It was meanwhile made known here that the highest army authorities consider the matter one to be dealt with seriously.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
