Page "Sugar Ray Robinson" Paragraph 11
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On February 27, 1943, Robinson was inducted into the United States Army, where he was again referred to as Walker Smith.
Robinson served with Joe Louis, and the pair went on tours where they performed exhibition bouts in front of US troops.
He argued with superiors who he felt were discriminatory against him, and refused to fight exhibitions when he was told African American soldiers were not allowed to watch them.
In late March, 1944, Robinson was stationed at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, waiting to ship out to Europe, where he was scheduled to perform more exhibition matches.
When he woke up on April 5 in Fort Jay Hospital on Governor's Island, he had missed his sailing for Europe and was under suspicion of deserting.
He himself reported falling down the stairs in his barracks on the 29th, but said that he had complete amnesia, and he could not remember any events from that moment until the 5th.
According to his file, a stranger had found him in the street on 1 April and helped him to a hospital.
In his examination report, a doctor at Fort Jay concluded that Robinson's version of events was sincere.
Robinson maintained his close friendship with Louis from their time in military service, and the two went into business together after the war.
They planned to start a liquor distribution business in New York City, but were denied a license due to their race.
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