
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 20, 1990                   TAG: 9003202768
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TRUTH ABOUT BLACK SOLDIERS' BRAVERY

I THINK the movie "Glory" really portrays the true black soldier, brave and not afraid to fight in any war. It wasn't a bunch of lies about us like the movie "Platoon," which portrayed us as cowards, doing drugs and inflicting wounds on ourselves to get out of killing Charlie, the enemy.

I spent two tours in Vietnam. I volunteered like a lot more of the black soldiers. I put 22 years in the service and I don't regret any of it.

About 40 percent of the U.S. soldiers in Vietnam were black. One of the highest medals was given to a black officer for bravery. So let's set the record straight for America, that we have fought bravely in all the wars and lost our lives, as did our white soldiers and those of other races. The time is now for all mankind to get to know one another and live together in peace as God intended.\ ROBERT L. COOPER SR.\ ROANOKE

by CNB