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Many
Indo-Guyanese joined the US army
Dear Editor,
Mr. Hamilton Green’s letter has already drawn one response pointing out its
historical inaccuracy vis a vis the Sun Chapman incident. It also drew a
second letter refuting the assertion that there never existed deliberate
policies to keep East Indians out of the Army during the PNC years in
government. Let me underscore this by informing that with 6 GCE O’Levels and
2 GCE A’Levels my application to the GDF Cadet Corps was never even
entertained. Yet I am aware that persons with less qualifications made it.
But the crux of my letter here today is to vehemently reject Mr. Green’s
argument that Indians are not psychologically disposed to such things as
military service. I joined the US Army in 1992, underwent the training and
emerged second best graduant in my unit. During my eight years in the US Army
reserve I won many commendations and achievement certificates, was continually
lauded by my superiors and was even chosen on a high level training mission to
Japan because of my skills and soldiering ability.
Also during my time in the US Army I personally met tens of Indo Guyanese just
at one fort, who held varying ranks, some of whom had already been there for
more than 20 years. And many of them had become top soldiers who were
continually sought out for advise and expertise. I am also aware that there
were/are Indo-Guyanese members of the US Armed Forces based in many parts of
the US as well as overseas. In fact there were quite a number of them in the
recent Iraqi War among whom one paid the ultimate price and was recently
buried by his parents in New York City.
And in all my discussions with those I personally knew, the talk never
referred to us finding ourselves indisposed psychologically or otherwise, to
military service. In fact the continual word coming from superior officers was
complimentary and mention was continually made of our creditable service. So
much so that the US Armed forces has opened up a number of recruiting centers
in ‘Little Guyana’, that part of New York City dominated by Indo-Caribbeans.
Whatever else Mr. Green may claim to be he is no expert on people’s
psychological disposition to anything and should therefore refrain from making
statements that are not only inaccurate but also smack of racist stereotyping.
Yours faithfully,
Annan Boodram
New York City
Tuesday June 10, 2003
Former Emperor of Guyana, Sampson Burham.