The First Lady pins a medal on the jacket of Sam Morris, one of four African American enlisted men honored at a special ceremony in front of Seattle's County-City Building on April 3, 1943. Several months earlier, these soldiers rescued many people after a bomber on a test run crashed into the Frye Packing Plant.

Honored soldiers are, left to right: Pvts. Lonnie Ancrum, Sam Morris, and Bruce Singletary. Hidden from view is Pvt. Charles E. Whitely. Another recipient of the Soldier's Medal is Corp. Kenneth J. Cristner. Brig. Gen. B.L. Milburn, commander of anti-aircraft in the area, assisted the First Lady.

Handwritten on image: Morris Bill [struck out] Sam. Roosevelt [unintelligible] R.
Handwritten on sleeve: Roosevelt, F. D., Mrs.; Morris Sam.
Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): April 3, 1943.

Caption information source: P-I exhibit.