Prisons & Geography: Past and Present
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By Jonathan Haeber
Cell Block “C” at the Fort Ord Stockade Confinement Facility. This abandoned prison was where the “Fort Ord 14″ protested unfair treatment and poor prison conditions.
While studying at Berkeley’s Geography Department, I had the unique privilege of taking classes from professors like Dick Walker and Ruthie Gilmore. Both focused much of their research on the geography of prisons in California.
What we have, most recently, is a boom in the country’s prison population. The top ten leading states in prison population — Texas, Florida, California, New York, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, and Missouri — operated more than three times the amount of prisons in 2000 than they did in 1979.
And yet, the old aversion to prisons being built in communities is being replaced by a strong lobby for them. The Washington Post says, “Call it salvation through incarceration — a prison-based development strategy that small towns all over America are pursuing, and changing economically and culturally because of it.”
Or, consider the recent words of professor Allan Pred, who notes a rapid rise of a worldwide Gulag Archipelago set up by the CIA in countries around the world — from Jordan, to Syria, Thailand, Indonesia, even prisons based on battleships in the Indian Ocean. What he cites as a “torture by proxy” network of secret rendition areas in foreign lands — 12,500 “enemy combatants” rounded up, and disappearing with no record of their whereabouts.
Prisons, politics, geography, and economics mix up in quite a brew. Whether you’re on one side of the issue, or the other, there is no doubt that our prison population has dramatically increased.
Walking through the abandoned stockade confinement facility at Fort Ord reminded me of the past struggles of prisoners — many who were mistreated, many who were conscientious objectors and deserters from the Vietnam War. Its damp rooms of peeling paint are barely big enough to turn around in. Gravel pours in from all sides — it is now surrounded by a private sand and gravel operation.
I think of the moment in 1968, when the “Fort Ord 14″ protested their treatment. For their peaceful protest they were nearly sentenced to hard labor and charges of mutiny. At the Presidio stockade to the North, there were as many as 60 suicide attempts for a population of 115. One prisoner, Richard “Rusty” Bunch was shot in the back of the head.
And in that empty prison, I hear those protest cries, still. Quiet, empty, full of detritus, but still resounding loudly with the voices of the past.
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December 17th, 2007 at 5:14 am
In 1968 my brother was wounded in the head in Vietnam, at the tender age of 18 I joined the Army. Trying to go to my brothers side with no help from the army I left. After 1,050 days AWOL time, I spent 5 mo. in that stockade at Fort Ord and do know about the conditions you speak of. I now have a UD discharge and my life has been ruined much like my brothers life was ruined by the military.
Bobby May
April 8th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I was in both the presidio and fort ord stockade in 1968 I spent 89 days in the black box at the presidio during the mutiny 27, I manned a table outside the main gate after my release. what is it you would like to know about the conditions.VVAW/WRL activist
February 16th, 2010 at 6:30 am
I SPENT 6 MONTHS IN THE FORT ORD STOCKADE IN 1967 AND ALSO WAS EVENTUALLY DISCHARGED WITH AN “UNDESIRABLE” DESIGNATION. I WAS DRAFTED IN 1966 AT 18, DUMB AS A POST. I FIND IT IRONIC THAT WHILE I STAYED AND FOUGHT AGAINST AN UNJUST WAR, THE ONES THAT RAN TO CANADA HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, BUT NOT US. OUR RECORD OF DISSENT STANDS AS TESTIMONY TO A FORGOTTEN ARMY OF THOUSANDS WHO RESISTED WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY. I’M GLAD THE “CANADIAN CREW” GOT AMNESTY, DON’T GET ME WRONG. THERE’S JUST ALOT LEFT TO DO FOR THE ONES WHO STAYED AND FOUGHT THE MILITARY FROM WITHIN.
June 13th, 2010 at 1:30 am
I am only commenting to assist with historical perspective, not take sides on any political issues. I don’t recount any of this because I am proud of any of it. It was the way it was. I attended AIT at Fort Ord, in the fall of 1966. Those of us who were waiting for OCS classdates, would be temporarily assigned to the 54th MP Company. This was the company that ran the Fort Ord Medium Security Stockade. I was only 19 years old, and naive. We were given two or three days training. The first question asked of us, was if you could not kill anyone, leave. We were then taught procedures in the towers, and on shotgun details. We were taken to the shotgun range outside the front gate. The procedure in the 40 foot tower, was to carry a M-14 rifle with five rounds of ammo. We were told that if we were to shoot anyone going over the fence, make sure he landed on the outside, not the inside. On shotgun details, we carried 12 gauge shotguns with 00 buckshot. We were told that if a prisoner runs, to yell, “Everbody down (alert to prisoners not running) Halt prisoner halt.” On the second halt we were to shoot. It was not fun working there for a number of reasons not important now; but the misery was not one sided. There were 4 solitary confinement cells. I don’t know what you had to do to get in one, and I didn’t work inside, so don’t have any stories. What I do remember is that the duration was for 14 days. Your laces and belt were taken from you. There was a bare bulb in the ceiling, and a small opening in the door, and you had to stand in that door every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day, for 14 days, and recite you name rank and serial number. There was no furniture except a place to go to the bathroom, and some boards chained to the wall. You were allowed to put these boards down for 7 hours each night. You had no pillow, and one army blanket. breakfast consisted of one bowl of cornflakes, no milk. One glass of water, and four pieces of white bread no butter. Lunch and dinner were the same. One bowl of stewed tomatoes, one glass of water, and 4 pieces of white bread, no butter. I understand that if a Doctor siad you were fit, they could leave you out for one day, and make you do another 14. I left at the beginning of 1967, attended OCS at Ft. Benning, then went to Vietnam for 13 months. I did not know about the Fort Ord 14 until recently doing the research. During July 2008, I was in the area, and received permission from the private company to enter the facility and walk around for a couple of hours. The 4 solitary cells were still there. I also remember every step in the place had the corners painted white, and had to be scrubbed. I believe PT was from 5:30 A.M. to 6:30 A. M. and close order drill for another hour, then breakfast and shotgun details. Which could include a real job doing something, or digging a hole in a hill near the stockade in the morning, and filling it in in the afternoon. I offer this as historical perspective in light of everything going on in the world. For any of you that suffered needlessly, I am sincerely sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I caught pneumonia in that damn cold guard tower, and almost died. I go to vietnam vet reunions; it would be interesting to have a Ft. Ord Stockade reunion, near the area, of those inside and working there. No weapons, please.
June 13th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
John: Thanks for telling your side of the story. It’s an incredible account, and I’m glad you were able to share your experiences.
June 15th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
My older brothers enlisted in the army and both went through basic training at Fort Ord. One brother upon his discharge described in detail the treatment he was given after being “captured”
during war-games. Tortured. Simulated drowning,that is waterboarding, using the water from the
polluted aquifer. When will this be brought to light? It sickens me to here the self serving rants about the torture of Iraqi prisoners while completely ignoring what was done to so many here.
June 18th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Dear sir i was in A-1-1- up the hill new building cement. My C.O. was Lt. BROWN oct 28 1963. I was in the rifle range when kennedy got shot. Yours truly . Johann do you have T.shirts. Johann i live in vienna AUSTRIA Esslinger Haupstrstrasse 9 1220 Vienna Austria EUROPE. Please write. I am no69 years old with diabetes. Johann. The guys at syracuse know me. i was a maintenance machinist Journy men.
July 25th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I was drafted in 11/69 and selected to be an MP right out of basic at Ft Jackson. Then went to Ft Gordon finished MP school and was then picked to be corrections guard. Assigned to Ft Ord spring of 1970 where I stayed till 9/71. I remember starting as a cell guard and the prisoners having it pretty easy. I never saw any abuse unless an inmate started a fight with another. I think most of the guards I worked with were draftees.Lucky in a lot of ways in that most of us never went to Viet Nam. I remember two prisoners Stidham and Foppiano who killed another soldier and were found guilty and ended up a Leavenworth. Another fragged his lt in VN to prevent the killing of the whole platoon as he told it, most of the guys who were confined in the max security section were actually the model prisoners and easiest to deal with. Things might have been worse before I arrived and looked like changes had been made to make things better for confinees. My shift worked 8 pm to 8 am three on three off- was pretty good duty trip. Rank came fast-came in as a PFC and ended up as a Desk Sgt E-5 before I left. I created many close ties to other guards even after leaving the service. I remember many nights out in the minimum security bldg playing cards with awols and pot heads. Never got into fights myself but had to break up prisoners fighting all the time. All in all most of these guys were basically all right just a little wild and misguided.
Nothing like a prison would be today-wouldn’t catch me there on either side of the bars.
Are there any other forums for ex 54th MP Co?
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:56 am
I took my basic training at Fort Ord in 1952 and after completion of basic I was put on orders for FECOM. I was assigned to the field arty 105 mm guns in Korea. During my training at For Ord I never heard of this treatment in the stockade although the system did not tolerate any defiance of authority.
Combat vet Korean War Paul Jastraub
August 19th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Sir some fellow says he say he doesnt remember me but i am in his FORT ORD yearbook. A-1-1 up the hill. C.O Lt Brown. my friend tell me your name . I live in my home her in Vienna AUSTRIA. Thak you so much. Johann
September 21st, 2010 at 9:13 pm
I was in Ft ord stock aid,70 and 71.spent one year in solitary confinment,i also escaped from the stockaid cutting a whole in wire ,below gun tower,by mess hall.i took 7 others with me.i was free one year,was captured by FBI,returned me back to ft ord stockaid,escaped again on work detail.was caught again sent to ft carson colorado was DD discharge 1971.In 1977 i wrote to jimmy carter,as the draft dodgers were wanting to come home from canada.Im viet nam vet wounded twice.Took BCT at fort ord 1966.I was given a general dishcharge by jimmy carter in 1977.I was treated like a dog there.Im a retired truck driver now,drove trucks 33 years,and taught people to drive them too at a truck school,i had nothing but hell in the army,not a good place to be for anyone.thank you
October 6th, 2010 at 5:43 am
This photo is not of “C” block. “C” block was upstairs. This photo is of “J” block (or Admin Segregation). I worked the Ft. Ord Confinement Facility in 1973-1974. most of the confinees were awaiting Chapter 13s for AWOL. very little hard timers there as it was a post trial facility. Most of the MP’s that were assigned to the facility were some of the last draftees of the Viet Nam era. Most didn’t want to be there more then the people they were gaurding. most of us just wanted to be home
December 27th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
to jeff stoddart,
i was surfing the web and decided to see if there was any info about the 54th mp. i was very surprised to see your name on this blog and interested to read your remembrances of our days at fort ord. i remember stidham and some of the others that were incarcerated. i’ve always wondered if you still played a lot of golf, you were really good, my son is getting good but i never could quite master the game. the only time i played pebble beach was with you, pete leuzinger, and chumly odell, these are fond memories. i still have a picture of the four of us at pebble. i get a christmas card from jim and becky hicks but i’m afraid i don’t write or e-mail like i should. for your info jim is living in montana and is about to or already has retired. i hope you read this and wish you and your family the best during this christmas season.
fred sillin (sgt sillin)
July 5th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Jeff Stoddart, I was a cell guard there much of the same time you were. I arrived in the Sept of 1970 and left in December of 1971. I remember the card games at night and the prisoners you mentioned: Stidham and Foppiano and the one who fragged his lt in Viet Nam. I also remember a few others but not not their names. I do recall the one who was shot while trying to escape – Castlano or something like that. In 2004 I visited the old stockade. Sure didn’t look the same.
August 11th, 2011 at 1:06 am
My brother received a chapter 10 discharge at fort ord after a six month (plus) AWOL in 1971. He spent 17 days in the stockade at fort ord and was sent home on excess leave. Was wondering if any of the other thousands of prisoners at fort ord were treated in a simular manner. I noticed in a previous post that most of the prisoners were awaiting a chapter 13 discharge for AWOL. It is my understanding that prisoners of simular circumstances actually spent more time in the city jail waiting to be picked up by the military then my brother spent in the stockade. By the way despite being pulled over by the up-land police department he was not taken to the city jail but rather to the stockade. Just wondering how others with simular circumstances were treated.
August 13th, 2011 at 3:23 am
I was a prisoner at the stockade from Sep 68 thru Mar 71 on and off when I was’nt awol or protesting the war with the resistance. I’m currently writing a book and several chapters deal with the stockade and army including the CTF at Ft Riley, I was there with the Presido 17 and the Ord 14, I worked in the messhall with Sgt Garcia. I would appreciate any photos or stories anyone has regarding the stockade. Fond memories even though it was hell. Hope to hear from you.
December 27th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Sir i was in A-1-1 Lt Brown C.O. Oct 28 1963. Does anybody remember me. Johann.