Alfred Burmeister

Alfred Burmeister was a conscientious objector from Illinois imprisoned during World War I. Court-martialed for refusing military service, he was held at Fort Leavenworth; Fort Douglas. Sentenced to 50 years in prison, reduced to 5 years. (Documented in the Swarthmore College Peace Collection's World War I Conscientious Objectors database.) Archival note: registered for draft on June 5, 1917, as a C.O.; interviewed by Bd. on Jan. 6, 1919 at Disciplinary Barracks ; charged with disobedience of orders and with seditious utterances; sentenced to 50 years in prison, reduced to 5 years; reason for stance = humanitarian, socialist; …