D-Day Reminiscences in Noir
A recent post on TPM dealing with the "burden" Southerners carried because of slavery touched a nerve regarding African-American participation in battles fought by the US military. One off the cuff remark made by the person who created the Southern lamentations post posited that the African-American soldiers who fought for the Union were not an important part of the War effort because of their small numbers.
The reason that remark touched a nerve was that it was a theme heard throughout the history of the United States military. During WWII many felt that placing African-American troops in battle was unwise. War was not the the time to engage in social experimentation said opponents . Limiting African-Americans to menial tasks in the military was supported by a 1925 report by the Army War College concluding that Blacks lacked the intellect and courage required for war.
Two stories emerged during the D-day memorial this weekend that put the lie to the report. The first was a story in the NYT that reported the activity of the All-Black 320th AntiAircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion. The helium filled balloons deployed by the battalion contained explosives that resulted in the downing of several Nazi aircraft when the German planes struck the balloons. The lone survivor of the unit, William G Dabney, was honored this weekend in France. A total of 700,000 African-Americans served in the Army during WWII. Initially Blacks were kept out of combat roles. However due to manpower shortages, by the end of 1944 two-thirds of Black troops were serving overseas The late entry of Black troops in a war effort, and only after shortages in White troops was also noted in the Civil War.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/06/world/europe/06iht-troops.html?ref=us
The second D-Day story about African-American troops during WWII dealt with honoring 350 African-American soldiers who were held as slave labor in Berga, a subcamp of Buchenwald. The captured Black troops were forced to work on tunnels at Berga, where the Nazis had a secret V-2 rocket factory. More than 100 soldiers died at the prison camp or on a forced 200 mile march in 1945. After the war, two Nazi cammanders of Berga had their death sentences commuted by the US government in 1948 for unknown reasons. Samuel Fahrer, a medic and Berga survivor, tried but failed to get the death penalty reinstated for the camp commanders. The men were finally recognized for bravery on Saturday, June 6th in Orlando, Florida. Six of the 22 surviving prisoners attended. Awards ceremonies for remaining survivors are being planned in local communities. Wayne Drash CNN played a major role in publicizing this story.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/08/berga.recognition/index.html?iref=newssearch
The recent recognization of African-American patriots who were long overlooked because of the color of their skin tells us that the country is trying to turn another corner on issues of race. The contributions of men and women who literally had to kick in doors to serve their country is not a little thing. In fact the conditions that they face makes their effort above and beyond the call of duty. These men did their contry proud..
The reason that remark touched a nerve was that it was a theme heard throughout the history of the United States military. During WWII many felt that placing African-American troops in battle was unwise. War was not the the time to engage in social experimentation said opponents . Limiting African-Americans to menial tasks in the military was supported by a 1925 report by the Army War College concluding that Blacks lacked the intellect and courage required for war.
Two stories emerged during the D-day memorial this weekend that put the lie to the report. The first was a story in the NYT that reported the activity of the All-Black 320th AntiAircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion. The helium filled balloons deployed by the battalion contained explosives that resulted in the downing of several Nazi aircraft when the German planes struck the balloons. The lone survivor of the unit, William G Dabney, was honored this weekend in France. A total of 700,000 African-Americans served in the Army during WWII. Initially Blacks were kept out of combat roles. However due to manpower shortages, by the end of 1944 two-thirds of Black troops were serving overseas The late entry of Black troops in a war effort, and only after shortages in White troops was also noted in the Civil War.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/06/world/europe/06iht-troops.html?ref=us
The second D-Day story about African-American troops during WWII dealt with honoring 350 African-American soldiers who were held as slave labor in Berga, a subcamp of Buchenwald. The captured Black troops were forced to work on tunnels at Berga, where the Nazis had a secret V-2 rocket factory. More than 100 soldiers died at the prison camp or on a forced 200 mile march in 1945. After the war, two Nazi cammanders of Berga had their death sentences commuted by the US government in 1948 for unknown reasons. Samuel Fahrer, a medic and Berga survivor, tried but failed to get the death penalty reinstated for the camp commanders. The men were finally recognized for bravery on Saturday, June 6th in Orlando, Florida. Six of the 22 surviving prisoners attended. Awards ceremonies for remaining survivors are being planned in local communities. Wayne Drash CNN played a major role in publicizing this story.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/08/berga.recognition/index.html?iref=newssearch
The recent recognization of African-American patriots who were long overlooked because of the color of their skin tells us that the country is trying to turn another corner on issues of race. The contributions of men and women who literally had to kick in doors to serve their country is not a little thing. In fact the conditions that they face makes their effort above and beyond the call of duty. These men did their contry proud..
