Really fight. I couldnt going, i didnt realize at that time, because of the color of my skin. The story of africanamericans in world war ii is indeed a legacy of patriotism and valor. In 1941 americans looked at their world and saw war everywhere. Across the atlantic adolph hitlers german troops occupied nearly every inch of europe from france to russia to the baltic sea and in north africa. In the pacific, the Japanese Army and navy had already captured parts of china, manchuria, korea, and a number of nearby islands. Pearl harbor would soon stun the United States into war. Monday morning, the first thing i did, was go down to the Army Recruiting station to enlist in the service of my country. I was told there was no quota for black troops. Youve got to remember that this country was very discriminatory, segregated, and there was no change. First of all, black sailors, as sailors per se, other than as mess attendants or stewards, werent permitted into the navy. Given the fact that i was in the segregated army, that made no difference. I joined the army to fight for the country, for my country, because i was born and raised and nurtured by this country and i saw no reason to slack off because of being segregated or being in an interracial society. They were regulated by firmly held beliefs. Blacks should be organized in segregated units. Blacks should be used only in Service Units. Blacks should not command whites. The motivation was basic. Black male of color, i felt that if i fought for my country, shed my blood if necessary, and i come back home, i would be treated as an equal. I earned it. In a sense, i really believe there were two wars. One was the war against the axis and the germans and the other was the war against segregation. Africanamericans would fight, bleed and die in world war ii to free people around the world. Their performance on the battlefield would change the American Armed forces forever. And their bravery would pave the way for the modern Civil Rights Movement that would emerge after the war. One battle would take much longer to win. It would take more than 50 years for america to fully recognize the heroism of its black war fighters. More than 50 years, ago an unspeakable tyranny over the world. An overwhelming numbers, he answered the call to war. As millions of these where americans, and many of these americans were black. In a second world war, more than 1 million African American men and women served on land, at sea, and in the air. They served to ensure that the freedom for which they fought abroad would not be denied at home. The program youre about to see is a chronicle of their service. In no way can it measure up to the determination and patriotism of these extraordinary men and women, for the struggle stands as a model of courage and character. As you watch the scenes unfold, you will get a glimpse of a magnificent hard trending effort for freedom and justice. Today, the triumphs of these africanamerican men and women, our Lasting Legacy for every soldier, sailor, airman, marine, coast guard men and merchant marine who served in world war ii. But even more, what they gave, what they suffered, and what they accomplished, its a shining example to free men and women everywhere. Black americans have always fought for this country. In the american revolution, 5,000 fight for freedom. The war of 1812, thousands more serve on land and at sea. The civil war. Africanamericans fight for freedom and dignity. The ninth and 10th calvary regiments open up americas western frontier as the Buffalo Soldiers. And the 24th and 25th infantry helped Teddy Roosevelts rough riders at a crucial moment for the battle of san juan hill. 400,000 africanamericans served in world war i. Two old black combat divisions were activated, the 92nd and 93rd infantry. But it is under the command of the french army that black american infantry would prove their medal on the battlefield. [explosions] for their bravery france awards black soldiers its highest medal and the United States awards black soldiers from both units the distinguished service cross. Despite their bravery, the number of black soldiers in the army are severely reduced during the period between world war i and world war ii. In 1940, there were only 4,451 africanamericans in the United States army. Five were commissioned officers and 11 warrant officers. The rest were enlisted men. Mostly in service and supply units. There were no black marines and only a few mess stewards in the navy and coast guard. By the mid 1930s the world veers towards war again. Africanamericans still must fight for the right to do their part. At west point, the armys military academy, the color barrier remains difficult to crack. Benjamin o davis jr. Graduates from west point in 1936. Hes the first africanamerican to graduate from the point in the 20th century. Not one social word was spoken for davis in his four years at west point. The reserve officer training corps, rotc, allowed some africanamerican College Students to become officers. Meanwhile, africanamerican organizations and news papers petitioned president franklin d. Roosevelt and his administration for dignity and equality in the armed forces. There is a grave apprehension among negroes, lest the existing and adequate representation and training of colored persons may lead to the creation of labor battalions and other forms of discrimination against them in the event of war. September 1940. Congress passes the Selective Service and training act. The first number is serial number 158. It promises that black americans will be represented in the armed forces in proportion to the general population. But, the marine corps isnt accepting blacks. The Army Air Corps isnt accepting blacks. The navy is, but only as mess attendants. The army takes africanamericans, but only as replacements for its all black units. On the home front, blacks faced discrimination in the expanding defense industry. Africanamerican organizations continued to protest. A. Philip randolph sets a july 1 date for a march on washington. To stop the march president roosevelt offers a compromise. He issues executive order 8802, which establishes the president s committee on fair employment practices. The order promises to end discrimination at factories producing for the national defense. Six months later, the United States enters world war ii. 1941, a date which will live in infamy. The v for victory becomes the double v for black americans. Victory over fascism, victory over racism at home. The double v becomes a rallying cry for africanamerican participation in Americas Armed forces and on the home front. Some day youll come along. From black entertainers joining the War Bond Campaign rallies to farm workers, to workers on the assembly line, africanamericans helped boost morale and supply Americas Armed forces. We did what we did because we were there and we had to do it. We had over 50,000 black soldiers, and they were from the port of embarkation where all the goods come in, into the jungles where we were. Africanamericans were sent to build roads and air strips for future battles. One of the worlds most formidable Construction Projects is the lito road, running from a city in china to china, over the himalayas and through the jungles. The ledo road would be more than a thousand miles long. We would surprise the gurkas supply the people in burma and we supplied the chinese. Of 15,000 troops who built the road 60 are africanamericans. The 1823rd engineer bat battalion begins work. Others soon joined them. Freight trains pull into a transfer shed located near the point of origin of the ledo road. A detachment of negro engineers began work on the road in december 1942. In this headquarters area the negro units handled every phase of the operations incident to move vital replacements along the ledo route. On january 12, 1945, the first convoy of soldiers traveled the ledo road. When the first convoy rode over the completed road 25 months later a negro was driving the lead vehicle. In driving, instead of shifting automatically, double clutching, when you start going up the mountains, you dont have time to double clutch, if you have a loaded truck, so you fly clutch it, so you slip past the gears. Youre rough on the truck but you got to your destination safely. On the other side of the world, africanamerican troops battled frigid arctic temperatures and blinding snow to build the alcan highway. Some had never drove a bulldozer or a big heavy truck. Never drove a road grater, but they learned how to do the work themselves. The terrain was very rough. It was unstable, the truck would vibrate which made it difficult for the bulldozers. The temperatures varied anywhere from 32 below zero down to 65 below zero. Bulldozer would freeze on the ground. Trucks would freeze to the ground. Once you cut the motor off you couldnt get any of them started. On the alaskan highway, black troops were housed in perennial cloth tents while the white soldiers were in decent huts and housed at some of the army bases. What protected the black soldiers inside of the tents was about an inch thick, which acted as insulation. From april 1942 until july 1943, blacks soldiers work on the 1600mile highway that will link alaska, canada, and the United States to supply allied forces. It was a great accomplishment. It was a great feat. Some compare it with building the panama canal. Planes, the first russianbound planes the United States got 8,000 planes to russia by way of the alaskan highway. Africanamerican soldiers also built air fields that paved the way for the liberation of europe. Hard work, sweat and tears, and the thing with this, you dont go home until you finish. You get it finished, and then you go home. The tuskegee experiment was designed to fail. I was not going to fail. The officer in charge told me, he said, we dont have any colored in the Army Military or air corps. There are other places for you and well not have any. The basis for their refusal was a staff report which had determined, i use that word euphamistically, that colored people did not have the intelligence, come, or even the coordination to fly fighter aircraft. There were a couple of young black men in the chicago area who felt so strongly about wanting to fly military aircraft, that they rented an old lincoln age biplane and flew it to washington to show that blacks did not have the opportunities to fly military aircraft. They were met by then senator harry truman. His statement was, if you guys have the guts to fly that all the way from chicago to washington, then ill see that you get what youre asking for. Mrs. Roosevelt went down to tuskegee, and she went to the dismay of the secret service and everybody, she went for a ride with chief anderson and when she went back to washington, within a short time, the tuskegee experiment was begun. The War Department announces plans for the formation and training of an all black pursuit squadron. An airfield to train the pilots is built in tuskegee, alabama. The first class consisted of 13, 12 students and one military officer, then captain davis, who later became the commander. I was transferred from the base of Tuskegee Army airfield to command the 99th in august of 1942. We were very much interested in flying. I think that everybody felt that this was an opportunity because they had not had the advantage of such training before. We had come to the realization that it would not come easy, that we would have to be almost twice as good as the other people if we were to succeed, but admonished ourselves and admonished our comrades, that this would not only be for us but it was for a whole race of people. In april 1943, the 99th flight pursuit squadron leaves for north africa. The commander has no combat experience. The 99th is stationed at cape bond attached to the 33rd Fighter Group. Trained for pursuit, the 99th ironically flies Bombing Missions in north africa and sicily through the summer of 1943. They had great problems in 1943 because the commander of the 33rd group was a devout segregationist and he did everything he could to keep the unit segregated. They were on a didnt part of the airfield. They werent invited to join officers club. They were kept segregated in every way, shape or form. Probably the worst thing the commander did to them is that in their First Combat Missions he didnt allow a veteran pilot to lead them into combat. In september 1943, the lack of significant fighter engagements endangers the 99thcontinued existence. Davis is ordered back to the states to defend the record. General davis, then Lieutenant Colonel davis, had to fight very hard to keep the unit flying. The air force recommendation, the Army Air Corps recommendation was to abandon the 99th and to stop the training of the 332nd. Lieutenant colonel daviss defense keeps the Tuskegee Airmen flying. With huge losses mounting for the 15th air force, the 332nd Fighter Group moved to italy in april 1944, to begin bomber escort duty. Davis snapped at the opportunity, he had been flying a very obsolete airplane, a b39 air cobra. He was given initially a 47 for about a month and then the p51. Just about every day we were flying top cover for bombers, protecting the bombers from enemy fighters. Now, the bombers, they have to fly straight and level at a certain speed so that the bomberdeer can make sure the bombs fall where they are supposed to. We flew around the smoke to pick them up at the other end. Its a sad commentary when you see those guys coming in there flying like bugs, you see them explode. On mission after mission, bomber crews looked to the 332nd red tail fighter escort for protection. Would you stay with the bombers because that was your primary job, because when the fighters went running off chasing other fighters, to chase german fighters, new german fighters could come in and the bombers would be all by themselves. The 332nd never lost a bomber to an enemy fighter, stretching from may of 1944 to april of 1945. That is a unique record. No white unit, all the rest were white, stayed in the hunt as long as they did, could make that claim. One of the armys best kept secrets was, that there was a black Fighter Group. We had no idea that red tails who had given us the finest escort and who we preferred, were black pilots. Not an idea in the world. The Tuskegee Airmen were a bunch of very courageous able, intelligent, aggressive young africanamericans, who were not going to be stopped by anything and we were some damn good pilots. It was just a feeling of patriotism and the feeling that everyone wanted to help out in the war effort. Africanamerican women also answered the call to service. From europe to north africa to new guinea and here at home they served and worked to win the war. In april 1941, the Army Nurse Corps has 48 africanamerican nurses. By 1944, there would be 220 black army nurses. Africanamerican females and the womens army corps, also had an uphill battle to serve their country. Charity adams commanded the six triple 8 central post of battalion. The whites had been serving overseas for almost two years by this time but for some reason the usual blacks, they make trouble or blacks cant do what others are doing and what not, overseas commanders did not want black women to come over. I guess if there is anything that i remember about world war ii, it was the fact that i was a member of the sixth triple 8 central postal directory. It was the first and the only battalion of black women to serve overseas during world war ii and im very, very proud of that. Stationed in birmingham, england and later in france, the sixth triple 8 processes mail, forwarding eagerlyawaited packages and letters to americans throughout europe. Their job was redirecting mail that had one attempted delivery based on the last address the people back home had but of course in war times you move pretty fast. Our job was not exciting. But it was necessary, because it was necessary for the morale of the troops. Mail met morale. By the wars end, the navy had commissioned six black female officers and had enlisted 70 waves. The coast guard by this time had accepted a few black women in its reserve program, the sparse. For civilian africanamerican women, world war ii brings new challenges and opportunities. 600,000 out of a million africanamericans who entered paid employment during the war are women. Dover, new jersey, they needed more weapons to make more ammunition for our fighting forces, the appeal was to harlem. A former factory worker summed it up best which he declares lincoln made have weak the slaves but hitler was one that got us folks out of the kitchen. You black sob, i never thought i would see one. So i was standing down on the corner of 14th and independence avenue all dressed up in my blues, and i never got so many hate stares in my life. From White Service men who looked at me and said who does he think he is . The navy resists taking blacks except as students. The marine corps remains all white. In 1942, the need for manpower taxed the navy and a mens color line. They secretary of the navy said they couldnt handle it and that was a challenge to me. Thats why i went in. In june 1942, the u. S. Marine corps enlists blacks. From across the country, africanamerican recruits arrive at munford point for boot camp. For many of them, munford point, like other southern bases, is a rude awakening. How in the world did i ever get into Something Like this, a receptionist said you will say yes, sir, no, sir, and you will not move until youre told to do so. Do you understand, boy . I heard what happened to black people or colored people as we were called, south of the Mason Dixon Line but i had no personal real experience and my parents who were southerners basically never talked about it. Colonel samuel a. Woods, Montford Point Commanding Officer is sympathetic to the challenges faced by his recruits. Colonel wood, who, as you know, graduated was, in my opinion, the fairest white man i have ever met or seen. Almost weekly, he would have us write a letter to washington in which he was complaining about the way we were treated, as human beings in north carolina. We did all the things that all marines do. Close order drills drilling, rifle range, handtohand combat, using masks, survival training, anything that any other marine got. In the navy, number of black enlist tees approach a hundred thousand. The Navy Establishes its First Training Program for black naval officers. I didnt know where i would be sent. I didnt know i was going to be sent there an didnt actually find out why because we had sealed orders, until we got there and met 15 other young black men to discover that we were the guinea pigs to either prove or disprove the myth that blacks were not capable of serving in the United States navy. They later became known as the golden turkey. The navy trains the black cadets within a segregated area and Great Lakes Training station in illinois. We try to study together, work together. Certainly, we were trying to be better than the next guy, and i think everybody was very competitive. It was very cooperative and yet competitive. I doing that, i think we raised our own level accomplishment. Black sailors who warned training came there with a purpose, and that purpose was to make sure that people knew that they could sail, but they were qualified to be sailors. The majority of them, i would say 95 of those guys, would have been able to have sailed anyplace. The navys uss mason and the pc 12 64, with their predominantly African American cruise, escort and protect vessels during the war years. Pioneering africanamerican officers and enlisted men also served in the coast guard and merchant marine, while protecting our shores and delivering men and Material Award to battlefields around the world. African americans knew nothing about airborne because its a very elite service. Restricted then only to whites. Here, we were going to now only we were going to be the only all black unit parachuters in history, black from top to bottom. The five 55th parachute company, the triple nichols. And all black unit is activated at fort bending in georgia. These paratroopers achieve a remarkable record. Not a single refusal to jump. With unit morale high, the triple nichols expect to see combat. Remember the battle of the bulge, they did great damage to our forces in europe and they were looking for specialized unit. We spent four weeks in individualized training, jumping every single week, both day and night operations. Instead, they are stationed in pendleton, oregon, to join operation firefly, a mission to protect the west coast from japanese balloon borne biological weapons and incendiary devices designed to start forest fires. Kept from combat in world war ii, the triple nichols nevertheless proved their ability to perform the task. Their success lays the groundwork for later integration of African Americans into the highly skilled 82nd airborne Infantry Division. It was one big noisy mess. Spring, 1944. Allied voices gather in england for the largest amphibious invasion in history. African american troops are part of the operation that will liberate europe. Quarter mattis quartermaster units rush troops to the docks and low pressure supplies. Their support is critical to the pending invasion. June 6th, 1944. Normandy, france, the day. The invasion begins. [gunshots] my job was to clean the mines so that the infantry coming aboard wouldnt get caught, wouldnt find themselves in the middle of mines. At omaha beach black soldiers of the 320th antiaircraft balloon battalion released balloons to protect ships. African american medics tend to the men wounded in the bloody battle. The number of casualties at omaha beach was phenomenal. We had never seen that many, or even thought, that there would be that many casualties. I held, along with other medics, i helped, along with other medics, to address and do the best we could with the wounded. Port companies arrive in normandy. They work 30, 40, 50 hour shifts building docks and unloading supplies that will sustain the allied push toward germany. General george patents third army breaks out from the Normandy Beach head. [gunshots and blasts] music to supply his troops in their dash across france, the transportation corps establishes the red bull express. Nearly 70 of the soldiers who man this massive effort are African American. The 469th quartermaster unit is in charge of 30 truck companies. They deliver food, ammunition and fuel to the troops, and transport prisoners and casualties to the rear area. These Unsung Heroes of the road live up to their motto. Keep them rolling, keep them supplied, keep them smiling. They constantly was going all the time. No stopping, always on call, anytime of day or night. The red ball express carries 8000 tons a day for four months. From august to november, they will haul more than 400,000 tons of supplies. music by the end of 1944, nearly 480,000 African Americans are serving overseas. In world war ii, the African American experience, at times it was not nice. I was quite frustrated with what was going on. We had to keep our thoughts and our minds on the big picture instead of worrying about segregation. The regiment really was not as well equipped and as well trained as it should have been. The 92nd division was for the Buffalo Soldiers of the ninth and tenth cavalry. The 92nd Infantry Division is reactivated in 1942. Only 20 years after they had carried their battle flag into world war i, the proud 92nd would fight racism, and training and on the battlefield. We were victims of being sent to locations where negroes couldnt do any harm to cities they were stationed in. Segregationist Army Policies and white citizen protest make it difficult to find places to station all black units. With the all black 93rd Infantry Division stationed in arizona, no other single post is available for the 92nd. When the 93rd ships out to the pacific in 1943, for which you can opens for the 92nd. Commanders of all black units, were southern selected officers. I found personally, and other black men found personally, that men who are generally not from the south were more considerate toward us, more respectful toward us. We enjoyed serving under the more so than from under the white southern officers. The general feeling of the white leadership and the units that i was in, this is, im speaking of my own self personally, they did not think very much of us. They did not think we had the intelligence to even pull the trigger and shoot straight. Army practice kept white officers from serving in units where they were junior in rank to any black officers. This created tensions in the 92nd. This Practice Limited the use of black officers, and more importantly, restricted their rank. I was angry. It made me feel very, very angry. The fact that my intelligence was insulted every time that i would make a suggestion on a tactic. The black officers were never given any latitude in any command situation at all. I was downgraded because i was black. The 92nd is commanded by southerner Major General edward all men. It is in a climate of racial mistrust of the 92nd trained for combat. Brigadier general Benjamin Davies senior, on an inspection tour, noted that Major General allman had overlooked the Human Element in training, with no thought of establishing racial understanding. My count that team was one of three combat teams in the 92nd Infantry Division. We were informed after maneuvers by the Division Commander that the 37th Infantry Combat Team would prepare for overseas movement. We were going overseas. We were just going overseas and we didnt know where we were going. We wanted to combat with the fifth army. We were attached to the first army division. The 378 infantry in the 598 Field Artillery made combat ready with the best soldiers on the division and deployed to italy. They joined allied forces fighting along the gore the gothic line. [gunshots] the 90 seconds 378 combat team fights aggressively and maintains contact with access forces. After six weeks of allied success, the excess forces withdraw. The german soldiers in italy were seasoned soldiers. They had come from another front. Namely, i think most of them came from southern france. They knew what they were doing. When you ran up against a bunch of them, you knew you were in a fight. The rest of the division arrives in late october and november and goes into the line. 2. 4 inches of rain in 24 hours in 9th of december flood the 92nd division 17 Airline Miles south of bologna. A Field Artillery battalion improvises a ferry to carry ammunition to a stranded battery across the swollen stream. The casualties experienced by the 92nd have a devastating effect on unit combat effectiveness. Black replacements are sent into theater with little or no combat training. Many cannot read or write. They are ill prepared for combat. The morale of the black soldiers, the enlisted personnel in the 378 at the time that i joined was very low. Most of these soldiers were draftys, they did not want to be there, and when they got there they were treated very badly. They were treated like human beings. Despite the handicaps, many units of the 92nd distinguished themselves in battle. Operating in a valley, the and 366th are particularly effective. Season ground from german battalion units and beating back numerous counterattacks. From fall 1944 to spring 1925 1945, the 92nd helps to hold the gothic line. But the entire fifth army remains stalled. Elsewhere on the italian front continues heavy rains, floods and winds makes allied advance nearly impossible. Its impossible to exaggerate the harshness of this years italian weather. In april, the fifth army begins its final drive through the gothic line. There have been changes. The 92nd is we organized as an integrated force. Attached are the famed japanese americans 442nd and the 473rd infantry along with the black 370th. They woke up they roll up the western italian coast liberating port cities. Many African Americans distinguish themselves in the italian campaign, but received little recognition. There was a definite program afoot to suppress acts of bravery or acts of heroism on the part of the black soldiers. I never heard any stories or any comments concerning bravery by black soldiers from any of the white officers. Every time we turn around, you would hear about acts of bravery of the white soldiers. For the 92nd, world war ii ends on april 30th, 1945, when german and italian troops they had fought since august surrender. Most of them were excited. They felt as though they were going to get a chance to see some action. Under the leadership of general mcarthur and admiral nimitz, allied forces undertook the Island Hopping campaign that led to the japanese homeland. Black troops are in the thick of the ferocious fighting. The first African American unit to engage the youth enemy in Ground Combat was the First Battalion of the 24th infantry. [gunshots] black Marine Companies are employed to serve alongside white Marine Assault units in what was to become some of the most desperate and heroic fighting. A Depot Company was more or less like a Utility Company. A Utility Company could be used in any capacity, even in front line combat because when the marines went out, Something Like a thousand people got killed in three days fighting. I think they lost approximately 4,000 on hiroshima. They lost thousands at okinawa. When youre on the beachhead and they are dropping those mortars and artillery shells on you thats about as much as front line combat as you can get in. [gunshot] marine Ammunition Companies are on the beach in the invasion, carrying ammo. Africanamericans performed much needed Construction Projects on the far flung islands of the pacific, including New Caledonia and new georgia. The invasion of iwo jima depths on the depths, the amphibious vehicles manned by africanamerican army operators. They bring 105 millimeter missiles ashore. I came off with my amphibious loaded with a 105 and 7 marines. On the radio i heard it was too hard to come in on green the water was real rough. Because, you know youve got to have training, to know how to drive that duck along when the water is rough and your ramp is coming up and down. I tell you, i was scared going in there and scared coming back. All of that flying over the top of you, you dont know whats going to hit you. Onshore black marines face a nightmare of enemy fire with the invasion force. I hear hiroshima with the 34th marine Depot Company, about d plus 3. Thus the night of d plus 3 and they put me and a few other black marines up to hold that line. It was kind of scary. Of course, i wasnt afraid because, perhaps i didnt have sense enough to be afraid. I always felt that anything horrible that happened would happen to somebody else, not me. As it grew on and got darker, i realized that i was up on that line by myself. There would be no light so you could see. All around me i could hear japanese talking. You knew that the enemy was out there with you throughout and you wonder whether or not would you be able to get into the beach safely or whether or not perhaps would you have problems getting in. The intensity of the fire on such a small area as that, one could have been killed at any one time or at any one place. [engine sounds] black sailors would also set a standard for valor in the pacific. Aboard the battleship West Virginia at Pearl Harbor Navy mess man mans an antiaircraft, and engages in attacking japanese planes. Miller will go down with his ship later in the war. Another, alonso shoots down kamikaze planes diving toward his ship the uss intrepid. In all, four black sailors are awarded the navys second highest honor, the navy cross. Swan will wait 50 years to receive his medal. The legacy of swan and miller is continued during the invasion of okinawa as black naval gunners help to destroy the horde of attacking kamikaze planes intent on destroying the fleet. The japanese sent suicide planes to land on okinawa. We saw japanese planes diving into the ships, the navy blew them up in midair. The most pride, i think is having to put your life on the line for the country, you feel as if you would have lost your life for good reason or good purpose. Im proud to have been a marine and you will find most black marines think the same way that i do. If this country ever went to war i want to be a definite part of that war. Word came out that they wanted volunteers, colored troops they called us then, to volunteer to fight in white units, as integrated units. I was told it would be integrated. We got ridiculed quite a bit by the combat troops that came over. We went overseas to help build the airports and so forth for the 8th and 9th air force and after they got there we were constantly ridiculed, you know, as they ridiculed blacks at that time. That outfit didnt have enough action for me. I was in the army and i wanted to see some action. By december 1944, the army faces a dangerous shortage. Few white combat replacement troops are left in the european theater. [gunshots] when the germans launch a counteroffensive, the need for reinforcements becomes crucial. There is only one place to turn. The all black support units behind the lines. For the first time in the war, the army asks africanamerican soldiers to take their places in combat units with white soldiers. The response exceeds all expectations. Anybody want to sign up for the infantry . I didnt hear any more about it. The next day i went into town, i came back the medical officer was there examining people for the infantry. I think the next day they was gone. Almost 5,000 black soldiers volunteered. They know they are trading the safety of duty in the rear to risk their lives on the front lines. When we volunteered to go into combat we automatically had to give up any rank that we had. We had to go in as privates. I was generous. I gave them my stripes. I went to a private for a chance to get shot at. I was just boiling for a fight, ill be frank with you, i was boiling and stewing for a fight. It didnt make any difference to me who i fought. To limit the effects of personnel losses and Service Units only 2,500 black soldiers are taken. In january, they begin infantry training. They sent troops who had been wounded and couldnt go back to their unit, to train us. We received the best training anyone could receive to prepare to go into combat. Six weeks later, 53 plat tunes of black infantry men led by white lieutenants and platoon sergeants join white infantry and armored units at the front. They told us we were integrated. We were not totally integrated, we became an extra platoon. When we got up there the white soldiers were glad to see us in the beginning. I think they were glad to see anybody coming up there because they were catching hell. We got there in the thick of things and they taught us a whole lot, right quick. Our first initial fire fight was interesting. The colonel came up and we had to take this little town, and the colonel said we might as well try out. All of a sudden everything break loose. We ran through, and the germans, the lieutenant said, fall back, so i told him, lieutenant, weve come this far, why are we going to go back down for. We took time. After that [inaudible] they knew we could do the job. I was pretty scared. I really tried to hold myself together but i was really sorry that i volunteered. I really didnt feel good about it at all. Volunteering for this, this hideous duty. If youve never been under artillery fire and air bombardments, you dont understand it. We were under heavy artillery fire and i was so frightened that i grabbed my steel helmet and pulled it down to my feet. Now, this sounds stupid, i know you cant do that, but that is what fear will do to you. The army calls the platoons an experiment in integration. The relationship between the blacks and the whites it was very good. It was excellent. They were more like family. Any time youre in combat youre a family man. When the war in europe is over, the theater commander tells the black infantry men that integration is over. Some return home. Others go back to segregated units. All of a sudden one morning, they came up with the truck and picked us up, black soldiers up and carried us back down into france, and assigned us to a black outfit. And i felt rather badly. I said, you mean to tell me this is whats happening to us after the war is over. They are getting rid of us. The experiment shatters the belief that integrating combat units will cause social dissension. We proved to the world that we could fight. It had already been proven by the ninth and 10th calvary. In fact, we overdid the job because in world war ii, the black newspapers were saying, let our boys fight in. Vietnam, they were saying let our boys stop fighting because they recognized the fact that combat kills people and we were ready for combat and we were warriors. In the true sense of the word. Any time they had a tought position they would send for the 761st. We continued and completed 183 eight straight of combat duty and the only reason why we didnt do more is because the germans quit. The 761st tank battalion is activated on april 1, 1942. I went to louisiana, im not bragging about it because it was about the worst that they had in the United States. But that was where the 761st was located. You learned every job. You learned to be a driver, a bow gunner, a loader, and a gunner. And a tank commander. They were going to make that unit look good no matter what happened, they were going to show people that blacks could fight, drive tanks, and fight against the germans as well as the whites could and in the long run they did a beautiful job at that. October 10, 1944, the 761stlands at omaha beach. They are the armys first africanamerican tank battalion committed to combat. They have been sent to help fight the germanselite tank corps. The general patton had made a statement that they didnt have to worry about negroes, because it was too technical a piece of equipment and yet when he requested from the department of army to send him the best remaining separate tank battalion left in the United States, who should show up, but the 761st . We went there, not too far, thats where we all assembled and got visited by general patton. Do you know who he was . He says i have nothing but the best and i sent for you. He says dont let me down and dont let your people down. We were pinned down, the first battle run, we had [inaudible] we took those three cities the first day and we unbuttoned, came out, and they almost fell off their feet. To see that we were black. Through november, the 761st battles its way through several french cities. This unit had an exceptional record in combat. December 1944. The battle of the bulge. [gunshots] at bastone, surrounded by germans, the 101st airbornefights for survival. To relieve the 101st patton rushes elements of his third army north. Serving in support, the 761st blasts its way from the river on december 24 north to new chateaux, belgium, where they arrive on the 30th. We were truly nervous in baston, because behind every tree was a dead soldier. Enemy for yours. There were groups of american g. I. s massacred, 11 black soldiers from the 333rd field battalion. When the bodies were recovered and it was discovered they had been mutilated, they had bust some of their skulls in with rifle butts, gouged their eyes out with bayonets. We never fought as one unit altogether. They just split us all over the place and i think that even confused the germans because i guess everywhere they looked they saw black tigers, they thought there were a whole bunch of us. There were about 700 of us but they didnt know that. We had the speed, and the 360 degree traversing of the turns, which the german tanks, they had to turn the whole tank to operate a fire on you. We could be traveling across 30 or 35 miles per hour, and that turn would go 360 degrees and you just keep firing and thats how we were able to either outflank them or get into a position and knock them out. After the battle of the bulge, units of the 761st go on to fight in belgium. And luxembourg, at stein bergh. On march 3rd, the 761st tank battalion enters germany. They reconstituted a task force and called it task force ryan. We tankers were given command of the operation. This was the outstanding and one total operation involving all of the battalion. We broke a hole through the lines into the ryan plane. We had no opposition whatsoever. My men were magnificent. The 761st captures 3000 enemy troops and expense 50 tons of ammunition during task force operations. Attached again to third, army the 761st spearheads the drive through germany into austria. What surprised me i wondered why did he pass all of these tanks over to the side of the division. It comes the 761st, beat up, tired, tank battalion to go in and lead the way. On the journey through germany, the 761st witnessed the horrors of war. The 761st was a sign to the 71st Infantry Division at the time the division liberated a camp near austria. The name of the camp it was one of the smaller refugee camps, or concentration camps. The 761st meet the soviet unions First Ukrainian front on may 6th at the river. My husband has had lots of troop since then, but whenever he talks of soldiers, whenever he talks of fine soldiers, of good soldiers, he talks about his soldiers, where the man of the hunt some 161st. 761st. We had a chance to prove that the black man could be a good warrior. Well, the impact of the war to my thinking was someone wants to solve their conscience, giving me the medal of honor. It should have been done at the time that these awards were made, the distinguished service cross, at the time the men did these heroic acts. But it was a time of complication. It was a time of trouble between the races. We were a very Different Society in that time. For more than 50 years following world war ii, no African Americans are awarded the medal of honor for actions performed during the war. The medal of honor is very specific. You dont have to just be great, you have to go above and beyond the call of duty. Thats where we had a young lieutenant by the name of john fox. He was our forward observer. He asked for fire, our whole fire on him to stop the germans that were coming down. Well, it often made the country look a little more closely at what was done by the black soldiers. What was done to the black soldiers. It ought to shed some light in the dark corner of our closet. Sergeant rivers, he was the point man for company a. He led the way coming into dublin, his tank hit a land mine and split his leg from his knee all the way up his leg. The medics said this was 1 Million Dollar wound. That meant you could go back home, youre out of the war, its over for you. He said, no. He said they need me here. The next day, when we had to move out, he said be careful going up this hill. As we were going there, my tank commander told him back out, back out, back out. Minds are there. Dont you see them . He said yes i see them, but im going to engage them. He did. By that time, a big white flash by the tank manner side and he got killed. Its very important that it be done now while their comrades, the guys who fought alongside them in world war ii, are still alive, because the honor in the glory of it reflects on all of them. When company c was given a mission to breakthrough the german lines to get to one objective. We broke through and the germans did not know we were there. During the action of breaking through the lines, we neutralized three machine gun nests, a couple of dugouts, we cut numerous communication lines. In may 1996, the pentagon forged the names of seven soldiers for the white house, recommending them for the medal of honor for their heroic actions and world war ii. There were 1,200,000 black americans in uniform during world war ii, and this is an important symbolic act. But i dont think theres any way, in this day in time, that you can adequately recognize all that they contributed and all that was denied them in terms of medals and honors and promotions. These sort of things, there is no way that you can entirely that you can balance the books entirely. We are half a century down the road. All you can do is this symbolic act and give to them some glory, some honor. They earned that and its long overdue. If you serve your country, you deserve to be served. It really makes me feel sad that we did our job, we bought, but we werent appreciated. We fought, but we werent appreciated. The African American veterans of world war ii served a nation that was not yet ready to serve them. With they fought against both fascism and racism. They were determined to prove to their fellow americans that they were their equals on the battlefield and were entitled to be their equals at home. We should all be proud of the sacrifices they made on the snow covered fields of belgium, and the skies over europe and on the bloody beaches of iwo jima. They wrote a noble chapter in American Military history. Their legacy made my rise and the American Military possible. I stood on their shoulders. They made america a better place for all of us. They asked for no special recognition. They asked for no tribute. I just wanted to fight for their beloved country and they did. We owe them there thanks we owe them our thanks and must continue their legacy of commitment and courage. [taps playing] First Lieutenant vernon baker. 92nd Infantry Division. First lieutenant john foxx, 92nd Infantry Division. First lieutenant charles l thomas, 6 14 tanked destroyer battalion. Staff Sergeant Edward a carter, 12 armored division. Staff Sergeant Ruben rivers, 761st tank battalion. Private first class willie james junior, 104th Infantry Division. Private george watson, 29th quartermaster. Now and forever, the truth will be known about these African Americans who gave so much that the rest of us might be free. music [america the beautiful playing] music sculptor sabin howard discusses the process behind creating a soldiers journey, a sculptural component of the new National World war one memorial, which is being constructed on pennsylvania avenue in Downtown Washington d. C. The National Civic arts society hosted this event and provided the video. My name is justin shubow, i am president of the National Civic arts society. We are delighted you could join us for this evening to hear sabin howard present his classical design for the National World war one memorial. Founded in 2002, the Civic Arts Society educates and empowers our leaders in the promotion of public