1906 Brownsville Raid

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

On this day in 1906, the Brownsville Raid resulted in the largest U.S. Army dismissal in the history of the military because a White bartender was killed and a Hispanic police officer lost an arm. 167 Black soldiers -- largely from the 25th Regiment -- were dishonorably discharged.
 

White commanders foresaw problems between the White residents of Brownsville, Texas - who consistently insulted the officers, and the Black officers - so they instituted a curfew and later vouched for the soldiers, insisted they remained in their barracks during the night of the murder.

Still, the soldiers were discharged, with many losing their pensions after serving for at least 20 years.

In 1972, then-President Richard Nixon pardoned the soldiers, after the case was reopened and found them innocent.

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