Milo Radulovich: Difference between revisions
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'''Milo |
'''Milo Radulović''' ([[1926]]? - ) is an [[United States|American]] citizen of [[Serbs|Serbian]] descent and former [[military reserves|reserve]] [[USAF|Air Force]] [[lieutenant]] who was accused of being a security risk in [[1953]]. His case was made public and helped turn the American people against [[McCarthyism]] (though Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]] was not directly involved). |
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In [[1953]], in the middle of the McCarthyist [[paranoia]] in the [[USA]], Radulovich, a reserve Air Force lieutenant in [[Dexter, Michigan]], was discharged because his father and sister were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers. It is believed that the basis of this determination was that his father, a [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] immigrant, kept up on events in his homeland by subscribing to a number of [[Serbian language|Serbian]] [[newspaper]]s. One of these papers was associated with the [[American Slav Congress]], which had been labeled as Communist by the [[American government]]. His sister was a supporter of liberal causes, but he maintains that he was "apolitical". Whatever evidence there was against the Lieutenant or his family was contained in a sealed manilla envelope. |
In [[1953]], in the middle of the McCarthyist [[paranoia]] in the [[USA]], Radulovich, a reserve Air Force lieutenant in [[Dexter, Michigan]], was discharged because his father and sister were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers. It is believed that the basis of this determination was that his father, a [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] immigrant, kept up on events in his homeland by subscribing to a number of [[Serbian language|Serbian]] [[newspaper]]s. One of these papers was associated with the [[American Slav Congress]], which had been labeled as Communist by the [[American government]]. His sister was a supporter of liberal causes, but he maintains that he was "apolitical". Whatever evidence there was against the Lieutenant or his family was contained in a sealed manilla envelope. |
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Revision as of 17:37, 27 July 2006
Milo Radulović (1926? - ) is an American citizen of Serbian descent and former reserve Air Force lieutenant who was accused of being a security risk in 1953. His case was made public and helped turn the American people against McCarthyism (though Senator Joseph McCarthy was not directly involved).
In 1953, in the middle of the McCarthyist paranoia in the USA, Radulovich, a reserve Air Force lieutenant in Dexter, Michigan, was discharged because his father and sister were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers. It is believed that the basis of this determination was that his father, a Yugoslav immigrant, kept up on events in his homeland by subscribing to a number of Serbian newspapers. One of these papers was associated with the American Slav Congress, which had been labeled as Communist by the American government. His sister was a supporter of liberal causes, but he maintains that he was "apolitical". Whatever evidence there was against the Lieutenant or his family was contained in a sealed manilla envelope.
Radulovich demanded an Air Force hearing, aided by retired lawyer Charles Lockwood, who worked pro bono. Lockwood contacted an editor at the Detroit News, which ran a story about the situation. Among the readers was a former classmate of Radulovich, attorney Kenneth Sanborn (who went on to become a State Representative and Probate Judge in Michigan). He was also an Air Force lieutenant and also accepted no fee for his services. Radulovich was granted a so-called 'hearing' at which the sealed manila envelope was brandished and waved by the attorney for the USAF. However, the envelope was never opened and neither the 'board' members, nor anyone in the Radulovich camp were permitted to see its contents.
The Air Force stripped Radulovich of his commission, which came to the attention of Edward R. Murrow, host of the popular See It Now program on CBS. For months, Murrow, producer Fred Friendly and the See It Now team had debated on how to address to McCarthy's witch hunt, until the Radulovich affair. A crew (Reporter/Assistant producer Joe Wershba and cameraman Charlie Mack) went to Dexter and filmed passionate interviews with the lieutenant and his family. Attorney Lockwood also appeared declared on national television "In my 32 years of practicing ... I have never witnessed such a farce and travesty upon justice as this thing has developed into."
The program aired on October 20, 1953. The image of this innocent man and his immigrant father led many viewers to question the impact of McCarthyist tactics for purging the government and military of potential security risks. Radulovich was reinstated one month after the broadcast.
He moved to California, where despite his reinstatement, he had trouble getting work. He was hired by a private weather forecasting business, later went to work for the National Weather Service, and was chief meteorologist at Capital City Airport in Lansing, Michigan when he retired in 1994.
A book was written about Radulovich's trial, To Strike at a King.