Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Most Blacks Excluded from World War II Action

From the March 16th Jackson (Ms) Sun "Most black units excluded from World War II combat" by Dan Morris.

About 900,000 blacks served in the military during World War Ii and of that number, only a small fraction actually saw battle. Only one black division, the 92nd saw combat in Europe.

Most blacks were assigned to segregated construction or supply units. It wasn't until President Truman signed a bill in 1948 that the military was desegregated.

Robert Shumbert, 84, of Selmer was drafted in 1943 and assigned to the all-black 1323rd Engineer regiment. He drove a truck and delivered supplies in Europe. He said, "Nobody that I knew complained that they didn't get to fight. That was just the way it was."

The last all-black Army unit wasn't disbanded until 1957.

The most famous black units in World War II were, of course, the Tuskegee Airmen and the 761st Tank Battalion under Patton.

Segregation Sure Was a Waste of Good Fighting Men. --Cooter

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