During the war in Vietnam, there was a notorious American military prison on the outskirts of Saigon called Long Binh Jail. But LBJ wasn't for captured enemy fighters, it was for American soldiers. These were men who had broken military law. And there were a lot of them. As the unpopular war dragged on, discipline frayed and soldiers started to rebel.
By the summer of 1968, over half the men in Long Binh Jail were locked up on AWOL charges. Some were there for more serious crimes, others for small stuff, like refusing to get a haircut. The stockade had become extremely overcrowded. Originally built to house 400 inmates, it became crammed with over 700 men, more than half African American.
On August 29th, 1968, the situation erupted. Fifty years later, we're bringing you that story.
To hear a clean, censored version of this story click here.
Read more about the uprising on NPR's Code Switch blog.
Inmates are searched before entering Long Binh Jail.
Inmates on work duty at Long Binh Jail.
Inmates filing sandbags while on work duty at Long Binh Jail.
An inmate leaving Long Binh Jail.
Jimmie Childress Jr. was incarcerated at Ling Binh Jail.
Larry J. Kimbrough was a Military Policeman assigned to the night shift at Long Binh Jail.
A building destroyed during the riot at Long Binh Jail.
During a riot on August 29, 1968, inmates burned down the Mess Hall Building at Long Binh Jail.
Aerial shot showing destruction at Long Binh Jail after the August 1968 riot. (National Archives)
Protesters of the Vietnam War, led by civil rights activists Stokely Carmichael and Floyd McKissick, marched in New York City. (LeRoy Henderson, 1967)
Cover of The Black Panther, September 1969.
This story was produced by Sarah Kate Kramer, with Joe Richman and Nellie Gilles. It was edited by Deborah George and Ben Shapiro. Thanks to Gerald F. Goodwin, whose New York Times op-ed led us to this story, and to historian Kimberley L. Phillips. Also thanks to Thomas Watson of the 720th MP Reunion Association and History Project for sharing the Military's CID Report; and David Zeiger of Displaced Films and and James Lewes of the GI Press Project for sharing photographs of the stockade with us.