Ulysses DeRosa

Born in Italy in 1892; emigrated to America in 1905; joined the Quakers in 1916; taken to Ft. Slocum for a few days, where he refused to sign induction papers; an absolutist C.O.; sent to Camp Funston; he and 51 others refused to do any work connected with the military; they were put in woods in tents, with no utensils, water, latrines, raw food to prepare, and moldy meat; all (most?) went on 10-day hunger strike; DeRosa went on other hunger strikes; went through much persecution by officers and enlisted men; was court-martialed on Oct. 6, 1918; sentenced to 25 years; sent to Ft. Leavenworth on November 4, 1918; part of Group 2 of C.O.s released in Jan. 1919 (those whom "the Board of Inquiry now find sincere and who in their judgment would have been recommended for furloughs if they had had the opportunity of being examined by the Board of Inquiry before the court-martial proceedings"); AFSC Asst. Secretary reported: "Eleven of the group [from Camp Taylor?] were transferred from Fort Riley to the Military Police Guard House, Camp Funston, including Ulysses DeRosa, who joined 20th Street Meeting, New York, a year ago. He reports that on Oct. 4th he received his charge sheet as follows: '64th article of War - in that Pt. Ulysses DeRosa, Company A, First Casual Bn. Conscientious Objectors, having received a lawful command from Col. Watreman his superior Officer to police some refuse near the Kitchen tent did at Fort Riley, Kansas, on or about Sept. 17-18, willfully disobey the same - Signed Lt. Donaldson.' He was before a representative of the Board of Inquiry on Sep. 26th and believes that they recommended him for the Friends' Unit. He says he is 'held almost incommunicado.' We should like to arrange for a Friend from Kansas to represent him as counsel if he is brought before court martial."