1958 Controversy ‘Again’ Surrounds Burial
Sioux City (AP) The mother of the celebrated Sgt. John Rice was buried Monday at Winnebago, Neb., amid circumstances resembling those surrounding the interment of her hero son 7 years ago. As with her son, the last resting place of Mrs. Fannie West became the center of controversy and bitterness. Sergeant Rice, 37, a Winnebago Indian, was killed in action in Korea. His burial gained widespread attention when rites were halted at graveside at a private cemetery here, apparently because of racial reasons. Former President Harry Truman interceded on behalf of the Indian soldier and his family and ordered the sergeant buried in Arlington Cemetery in Washington. The Rev. Wilbur DeCora of Winnebago, former Golden Gloves boxing champion turned minister, said it was the family’s wish that Mrs. West, a Catholic, be buried in the Catholic cemetery at Winnebago. The Rev. DeCora said that preparations for burial, however, were halted Sunday on orders from the Rev. Frank Hulsman, parish priest at Winnebago, on religious grounds. But the Rev. Hulsman Monday denied restricting the burial site on religious grounds and said he was prepared to administer the rites at the Catholic cemetery. He added, however, that a family argument developed among Mrs. West’s children and that they finally decided to bury her on the Winnebago reservation.
Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, NE; Tues Nov 25, 1958; p.5
Sioux City (AP) The mother of the celebrated Sgt. John Rice was buried Monday at Winnebago, Neb., amid circumstances resembling those surrounding the interment of her hero son 7 years ago. As with her son, the last resting place of Mrs. Fannie West became the center of controversy and bitterness. Sergeant Rice, 37, a Winnebago Indian, was killed in action in Korea. His burial gained widespread attention when rites were halted at graveside at a private cemetery here, apparently because of racial reasons. Former President Harry Truman interceded on behalf of the Indian soldier and his family and ordered the sergeant buried in Arlington Cemetery in Washington. The Rev. Wilbur DeCora of Winnebago, former Golden Gloves boxing champion turned minister, said it was the family’s wish that Mrs. West, a Catholic, be buried in the Catholic cemetery at Winnebago. The Rev. DeCora said that preparations for burial, however, were halted Sunday on orders from the Rev. Frank Hulsman, parish priest at Winnebago, on religious grounds. But the Rev. Hulsman Monday denied restricting the burial site on religious grounds and said he was prepared to administer the rites at the Catholic cemetery. He added, however, that a family argument developed among Mrs. West’s children and that they finally decided to bury her on the Winnebago reservation.
Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, NE; Tues Nov 25, 1958; p.5
1958 Controversy ‘Again’ Surrounds Burial
Sioux City (AP) The mother of the celebrated Sgt. John Rice was buried Monday at Winnebago, Neb., amid circumstances resembling those surrounding the interment of her hero son 7 years ago. As with her son, the last resting place of Mrs. Fannie West became the center of controversy and bitterness. Sergeant Rice, 37, a Winnebago Indian, was killed in action in Korea. His burial gained widespread attention when rites were halted at graveside at a private cemetery here, apparently because of racial reasons. Former President Harry Truman interceded on behalf of the Indian soldier and his family and ordered the sergeant buried in Arlington Cemetery in Washington. The Rev. Wilbur DeCora of Winnebago, former Golden Gloves boxing champion turned minister, said it was the family’s wish that Mrs. West, a Catholic, be buried in the Catholic cemetery at Winnebago. The Rev. DeCora said that preparations for burial, however, were halted Sunday on orders from the Rev. Frank Hulsman, parish priest at Winnebago, on religious grounds. But the Rev. Hulsman Monday denied restricting the burial site on religious grounds and said he was prepared to administer the rites at the Catholic cemetery. He added, however, that a family argument developed among Mrs. West’s children and that they finally decided to bury her on the Winnebago reservation.
Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, NE; Tues Nov 25, 1958; p.5
Sioux City (AP) The mother of the celebrated Sgt. John Rice was buried Monday at Winnebago, Neb., amid circumstances resembling those surrounding the interment of her hero son 7 years ago. As with her son, the last resting place of Mrs. Fannie West became the center of controversy and bitterness. Sergeant Rice, 37, a Winnebago Indian, was killed in action in Korea. His burial gained widespread attention when rites were halted at graveside at a private cemetery here, apparently because of racial reasons. Former President Harry Truman interceded on behalf of the Indian soldier and his family and ordered the sergeant buried in Arlington Cemetery in Washington. The Rev. Wilbur DeCora of Winnebago, former Golden Gloves boxing champion turned minister, said it was the family’s wish that Mrs. West, a Catholic, be buried in the Catholic cemetery at Winnebago. The Rev. DeCora said that preparations for burial, however, were halted Sunday on orders from the Rev. Frank Hulsman, parish priest at Winnebago, on religious grounds. But the Rev. Hulsman Monday denied restricting the burial site on religious grounds and said he was prepared to administer the rites at the Catholic cemetery. He added, however, that a family argument developed among Mrs. West’s children and that they finally decided to bury her on the Winnebago reservation.
Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, NE; Tues Nov 25, 1958; p.5
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