Black Panthers

Re “Black Panthers Say Their Name Has Been Stolen,” Nov. 12: As much as I might sympathize with Bobby Seale and David Hilliard over their complaint that their trademarked Black Panther was usurped by anti-Semites, I wonder if they, and the general public, know that the name and logo were not original to them. That in fact, during World War II, the all-African American 761st tank battalion (a courageous and unsung group if there ever was one) had an identical logo and the same name. They called themselves the Black Panthers and were instrumental in helping win the Battle of the Bulge.

A precious few of them are still alive, and they deserve acknowledgment.

Tim Metcalfe

Los Angeles