New bust at Fort Leavenworth honors black soldiers

[Jim O]

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - A new sculpture at Fort Leavenworth honors the accomplishments of the members of a black parachute battalion whose members dropped into forests in the Pacific Northwest during World War II.

The bust, which sits prominently near the Buffalo Soldier Monument, honors the black soldiers of the 555th Infantry Parachute Battalion, or "Triple Nickles."

"These men were physically and mentally tough, troopers of extraordinary determination, quiet pride and exceptional ability," said David H. Petraeus, a three-star general and Fort Leavenworth commander, who spoke Thursday during the unveiling of the sculpture of the parachute-clad paratrooper.

In 1942, A War Department committee recommended the formation of an all-black parachute unit. The Army Chief of Staff -- General George Marshall -- approved an all-volunteer company-sized unit of black paratroopers in 1943.

After several months of training at Fort Benning, Georgia, the unit was transferred to North Carolina. It was later expanded to battalion size.

The unit's test came in 1945 when it was assigned to Oregon to fight a secret battle, Operation Fire Fly. The men parachuted into the forests of the Pacific Northwest, where they fought blazes the Japanese set by floating incendiary balloons into the jet stream.

"This was obviously a very hazardous, very sensitive mission - jumping as what we now know as 'smoke jumpers' on a mission that had to be carried out in utmost secrecy for fear of the panic that might ensue were knowledge of the Japanese actions to leak," Petraeus said.

Though the battle was classified for several years to avoid causing panic, it has gained attention in recent years.

"It is very impressive," said Kelvin Crow, a historian at Fort Leavenworth. "It's not island hopping in the Pacific. It's not the Battle of the Bulge or the Normandy landing, but it's a significant battle in the Second World War. It's just not as widely known."

Source: AP Wire | 09/08/2006 | New bust at Fort Leavenworth honors black soldiers

[Klaus]

Well, have you ever seen a black guy in a WW2 movie? It would seeem that black people fought in Vietnam for the first time... But there in so large numbers that the vietcong thought Africa had declared war on them.

[Jim O]

The US Army was only integrated after World War II by order of President Truman. During the war only a few select units saw combat action of any kind (such as the Tuskegee Airmen). Most had menial (and often dangerous) jobs.

In the Vietnam and today still, there were/are a disproproprtionate number of African Americans serving and dying, mostly if not entirely due to economic reasons.

[Klaus]

I told some friends about this thread and they said they never knew that black people participated in the war.

[Jim O]

They had black units working loading ordnance onto transport ships at naval posts with limited training. Read Port Chicago - Blast and Aftermatch if you want to learn about the worst US domestic military disaster of World War II. Most of the casualties were black.

Another interesting article can be found at AlterNet: The Missing 57th Pillar In The National World War II Monument.

[Klaus]

Now I got to tell my friends something new.

[Jim O]

Japanese Americans were not necessarily treated any better. Despite having family members in internment camps, many fought valiantly, though most often in segregated units.

You must remember my dear friends that the US was highly segregated at that time, particularly the South. There were separate schools, public toilets, and water fountains for blacks in most of the south. Many restaurants were "white only". Blacks had to ride in the "back of the bus". So the level of discrimination and segregation in the military should not be a surprise.

On the other hand, the US Army was one of the first institutions to be officially integrated. This, of course, happened as a result of President Truman's Executive Order of July 26, 1948 as follows:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981


Whereas it is essential that there be maintained in the armed services of the United States the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who served in our country’s defense:

Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority invested in me as President of the United States, and as Commander in Chief of the armed services, it is hereby ordered as follows:

1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.

2. There shall be created in the National Military Establishment an advisory committee to be known as the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, which shall be composed of seven members to be designated by the President.

3. The Committee is authorized on behalf of the President to examine into the rules, procedures and practices of the armed services in order to determine in what respect such rules, procedures and practices may be altered or improved with a view to carrying out the policy of this order. The Committee shall confer and advise with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force, and shall make such recommendations to the President and to said Secretaries as in the judgement of the Committee will effectuate the policy hereof.

4. All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Committee in its work, and to furnish the Committee such information or the services of such persons as the Committee may require in the performance of its duties.

5. When requested by the Committee to do so, persons in the armed services or in any of the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall testify before the Committee and shall make available for use of the Committee such documents and other information as the Committee may require.

6. The Committee shall continue to exist until such time as the President shall terminate its existence by Executive Order.

Harry S Truman
The White House
July 26, 1948

The last all-black unit was finally disbanded in 1954.

[Klaus]

At least when it comes to fighting and getting killed man are equal.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Klaus

At least when it comes to fighting and getting killed man are equal.

The blood is always red.