President Truman Helped War Hero's Family
Korean Conflict Casualty Denied Burial Because of His Race
Jul 17, 2008
John R., Rice knew two professions—farming and soldiering. He died as a soldier, killed in action Sept. 6, 1950, fighting with the Eighth Regiment, First Cavalry Division, in Korea. He had lived through World War II duty in New Guinea and the Philippines and was awarded a Purple Heart.
Burial Not Permitted
The incident began Sept. 28, 1951 after Catholic rites and military services at Memorial Park Cemetery near Sioux City, IA. Rice’s widow and most of the funeral party, including the honor guard from two local American Legion Posts, were gone when Ben Willie, cemetery association salesman, asked South Sioux City funeral director Barton Boyd if Rice was an Indian.
When Mrs. Evelyn Rice purchased the burial lot she missed a contract clause prohibiting non Caucasian burials in the cemetery.
Willie refused to allow the body to be interred. The funeral director left to inform the family. The veteran’s casket remained at the cemetery lot for about five hours before being returned to the funeral home.
J. M. Gunnell, cemetery association secretary, immediately offered Sgt. Rice’s widow a $100 cemetery lot refund when she refused to sign a declaration that her husband was Caucasian. Saying her husband was Indian and French, Mrs. Rice refused the check.
Americans Outraged at Discrimination
News spread. Individuals and organizations across the country expressed outrage. Local American and VFW officials denounced the cemetery association’s action as disgraceful. Union leaders, teachers, ministers, politicians and other citizens protested.
Evelyn Rice, stunned and bitter, agreed to have her husband buried at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas under an arrangement hastily made by Lt. Edward Krischel of Omaha, a bugler at the funeral.
Memorial Park Cemetery said the non Caucasian policy was long established, but did an about face, apologized to Mrs. Rice and agreed to lift the restriction. She refused their offer.
President Truman Intervenes
The next day Evelyn received another surprise. President Truman offered a hero’s burial at Arlington National Cemetery. He said “national appreciation of patriotic sacrifices should not be limited by race, color or creed.”
Mrs. Rice accepted Truman’s offer. Support and sympathy continued to pour in.
Honor guards, numerous officials and veterans escorted the casket to the railroad station. Sgt. Rice’s wheelchair-bound mother was put on the train. The widow, the sergeant’s brother and others flew to Washington.
Burial in Arlington Cemetery
Three days later a horse-drawn black caisson traveled to Arlington Cemetery, where Sgt. Rice was laid to rest near Gen. John Pershing and Gen. Walton Walker, who had commanded the Eighth Army in Korea.
End of story? Not quite. The Sioux City Council issued regrets saying Sioux City citizens would have been honored to have Sgt. Rice buried there. City-owned cemeteries had no restrictions.
Mrs. Rice’s suit against the cemetery association went all the way to the Supreme Court. The verdict? The cemetery association acted within its rights.
Evelyn Rice and her husband were wed on Valentine's Day, 1945. She never remarried, lived to age 83 and her children had her ashes interred on her husband's plot in Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
Sioux City (IA) Journal, April 17, 1976; "New School Memorial to Sgt. John R. Rice," Dec. 12, 1951,
Iowa City (IA) Press Citizen; "Celebrating the Life of Sgt. Rice," (IA) Journal, Aug. 29, 2001, by Kate Thompson; "Burial of Rice War Hero Was National News," p. 101
Sioux City
Celebrating Our Diversity, 2002, Enfield, CT.
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