Fighting
on Many Fronts
African-American Involvement in WWII |
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Minorities integrated
into workforce due to the labor shortages
of wartime.
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Gun crewmen on the USS Indianapolis,
July 1942
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Medic.
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Fighting on Many Fronts
African Americans
served bravely and with distinction in every
theater of World War II, while simultaneously
facing a struggle for their own civil rights
from "the world's greatest democracy."
Although the United States Armed Forces were
officially segregated until 1948, WWII laid
the foundation for post-war integration of
the military. In 1941 fewer than 4,000 African
Americans were serving in the military and
only 12 African Americans had become officers.
By 1945, more than 1.2 million African Americans
would be serving in uniform both in Europe
and the Pacific.
During the war years, the segregation practices
of civilian life spilled over into the military.
The draft was segregated and more often than
not African Americans were passed over by
the all white draft boards. Pressure from
the NAACP led President Roosevelt to pledge
that African Americans would be enlisted according
to their percentage in the population. Although
this percentage, 10.6%, was never actually
attained in the services during the war, African
American numbers grew dramatically in the
Army, Navy, Army Air Forces, Marine Corps,
and the Coast Guard.
While most African Americans serving at the
beginning of WWII were assigned to non-combat
units and relegated to service duties, such
as supply, maintenance, and transportation,
their work behind front lines was equally
vital to the war effort. Many drove for the
famous "Red Ball Express," which carried enormous
amounts of supplies to the advancing First
and Third Armies through France and into Germany.
By 1945, however, troop losses virtually forced
the military to begin placing African American
troops into positions as infantrymen, pilots,
tankers, medics, and officers in increasing
numbers. In all positions and ranks, they
served with as much honor, distinction, and
courage as any American soldier. Still, African
American MPs stationed in the South often
could not enter restaurants where their German
prisoners were being served a meal.
On D-Day, the First Army on Omaha and Utah
Beaches included about 1,700 African American
troops. This number included a section of
the 327th Quartermaster Service Company and
the 320th Anti-Aircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion,
which protected troops on the beach from aerial
attack.
Soon the all-black 761st Tank Battalion was
fighting its way through France with Patton's
Third Army. They spent 183 days in combat
and were credited with capturing 30 major
towns in France, Belgium, and Germany.
The Army Air Forces also established several
African American fighter and bomber groups.
The famous "Tuskegee Airmen" of the 332nd
Fighter Group became part of the 15th Air
Force, flying ground support missions over
Anzio and escorting bombers on missions over
Southern Italy. The 332nd, while shooting
down over 100 enemy planes, was the only group
never to lose a bomber to enemy fighters.
Stephen Ambrose identified the lamentable
American irony of WWII, writing, "The world's
greatest democracy fought the world's greatest
racist with a segregated army" (Ambrose, Citizen
Soldier).
During the global conflict, African American
leaders and organizations established the
"Double V" campaign, calling for victory against
the enemy overseas and victory against racism
at home. This new black consciousness and
the defiant rejection of unjustifiable racism
planted important seeds for the post-War civil
rights movement.
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