Lou Byers who lived in Oakland, CA, joined the United States Army at the age of 17. His time in the armed services in Germany was marked by Byers experiencing racism at a higher level than he ever had in Oakland. Byers grew disillusioned with the U.S. and began writing home expressing suicidal ideation. Byers' mother contacted the Red Cross unsuccessfully attempting to get Byers help. Byers was dishonorably discharged at 19 for apathy toward the military and an inability to adjust. Back in the United States Byers was later incarcerated for minor public altercations spurred on by his resentment and hatred of the U.S. military.