Fred Briehl

Born on December 15, 1892; registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, as a C.O.; Wray Hoffman mentions Briehl as being at Camp Meade on Sept. 28, 1917; sent to Camp Upton (NY) on June 24, 1918; refused to wear the uniform; interviewed by Board in July 1918 at Leavenworth and Feb. 14, 1919 at the Disciplinary Barracks [Ft. Leavenworth]; deemed to be "insincere" (classed by Board of Inquiry as 3 [later as 7?]); charged with disobedience of orders and with violation of 96th Article of War; court-martial occurred at Ft. Riley (KS) on Aug. 23, 1918; courts-martial trial #119859; sentenced to 30 years in prison, reduced to 5 years; transferred to Ft. Leavenworth July 12, 1918; arrived at Ft. Douglas USDB on July 11, 1919; refused to work in prison for first year and nine months, but agreed to do so on May 28, 1920 (probably in order to secure release); Adjutant General wrote n July 2, 1920: "This man is a socialist but there is nothing in the recent report of 1st Lt. E.B.M. Casey, M.C. Psychiatrist, to indicate that he belongs to the agitator and radical element among the general prisoners at the War Prison Barracks.... The remission of the unexecuted portion of confinement is recommended."; reason for stance = Socialist; member of Socialist Party; was already married by the time he was in prison.