based on a MILITANT (U.S.) article EfC. Howard letrick, a: 2l-year- -old soldier stitioned at Fort Hood, Texas, faces a threatened dspbtomertial for the sole "crime" of expressing his socialist, anti-war views to his fellow G.I.8. Petrick had been ‘active in the Minneapolis anti-war and socialist movements prior to being drafted last July. Since his induction he has continued to express his rights. as a ‘citizen, expressing his views in opposition to the Vietnam war, and on the general politic;1 issues of the day. oon Petrick's socialist,. anti-war beliefs were well known to Army : sathorities at the ‘time of his induction. :-In the summer of 1965 he had become active. in the Minesota Committee to:End.’ -the War in Vietnam, ‘iis opposition to the. Vietnam wer-led him to socialist convictions and. he became.a member of the Hiinneapolis Young Socialist Alliance and Socialist \orkers Party. At the time he was first called up for induction, Petrick refused to sign the standard "lcyalty oath" which is supposed to establish that the prospective driftee is not a member of one of several hundred organizi:tions arbitrarily brunded “subversive: ‘by. the U.S. Attorney General. Tetrick refused to. sign on the. constitutions] ground .thit such an oath. violated his First. ‘Amendment right of free politicul ussociation,. On July 13, 1966, he wis inducted into the iymy. He agein refused to’ sign the so-called loy..lty oath on constitutional grounds. Acked by an Axmy officer at the induction center why he wes refusing to sign, letrick explained thet he did not intend to yield any of his constitutional rights while in ‘the service ind intended ‘to continue to’ express his beliefs. The officer — assured him that. his constitutional right to d6 so would not be infringed upon in any way. Since his induction, Petrick has maintained a personal ~ library of Marxist and other works to continue his own political education. At the same. time has openly circulated anti-war, black power and socialist literuture. Msny showed serious interest in this material .nd in discussing the ideas in them. A number hive expressed: sympathy with Petrick's ‘stand wgainst the war and some also with his sociulist viewpoint. On March 20 Tetrick was given a pass for a, ten-d.y leive and during this period attended the convention of the Young ‘Socialist Alliance. On his return to Fort Hood he. found that his locker hed been. searched and litersture removed. Th..t evening he was. called: in and a’ series. of 70 nneetalonae were Girected to. him regerding his political beliefs and associaticns,. his. _possession of antiwar liter:ture and statements he had made while in the urmy. Fetrick declined to enswer these j,uestions at that time. ‘.He was-then «ssigned an /:rmy.attorney who advised him of the prospective court-martial. He told Petrick that the. charges in such a court-mirtial would: probe bly include. ‘subversion’ . creating "disaffection" within the urmed forces «nd making "disloy:1 st:tements." The Lawyer suid: ¢éxch count under, these chargey c.rries a maximum penalty. of. >. three yecrs in prison. Since’ then he hés béén assigned toa new unit; “His” files are being held in : pale aianaie astegoxye: he hasn'+t, drawn his, pay, «nd cannot obtuin «1 furlough.: : ci inex veh legates! Petrick ‘has made clesr he will not viele’ to this pressure. In a statement he said, “his is i cleur infringement of my civil liberties. I: have never’ disobeyed an order ‘and have fulfilled all ‘my duties as a soldier, A’G.I. | is still an American citizen'and has the ‘constitutional right to revd,’ discuss and subscribe to Eny, political idens," A Provisiont1 Comittee to’ ' . -f/Continued’ ever
Aid tloward Fetrick has been established to publicize the case as widely as
possible in an effort to forestall further action against Petrick. ‘The
committee is appe: ling to all partisans of civil liberties to support
Petrick's fight. It is directing special emphasis to the anti-war movement
which as a cleer and direct interestin bucking Fetrick since the move to
curb his free speech is | pea aimed at curbing the expression of anti-
war views e
The committee has asked that protests be lodged with Secretary of Defense
Robert McNamzra .nd copies be forw rded to the committee. ie