| Line 228: | Line 228: | ||
===World War I (1917-1918)=== | ===World War I (1917-1918)=== | ||
Officers of the 366th Infantry Regiment returning home from WWI service.The U.S. armed forces remained segregated through World War I. Still, many African Americans eagerly volunteered to join the Allied cause following America's entry into the war. By the time of the armistice with Germany on November 1918, over 350,000 African Americans had served with the American Expeditionary Force in on the Western Front. | Officers of the 366th Infantry Regiment returning home from WWI service. The U.S. armed forces remained segregated through World War I. Still, many African Americans eagerly volunteered to join the Allied cause following America's entry into the war. By the time of the armistice with Germany on November 1918, over 350,000 African Americans had served with the American Expeditionary Force in on the Western Front. | ||
Most African American units were largely relegated to support roles and saw little combat. Still, African Americans played a major role in America's war effort. One of the most distinguished units was the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Harlem Hellfighters," which was on the front lines for six months, longer then any other African American regiment in the war. One hundred seventy-one members of the 396th were awarded the Legion of Merit. | Most African American units were largely relegated to support roles and saw little combat. Still, African Americans played a major role in America's war effort. One of the most distinguished units was the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Harlem Hellfighters," which was on the front lines for six months, longer then any other African American regiment in the war. One hundred seventy-one members of the 396th were awarded the Legion of Merit. | ||
| Line 235: | Line 235: | ||
Many, believing that the recommendation was intentionally ignored due to institutional racism in the Armed Forces. In 1990, under direction from Congress, the Department of the Army launched an investigation. Based on findings from this investigation, the Army Decorations Board approved the award of the Medal of Honor to Stowers. On April 24, 1991—73 years after he was killed in action—Stowers' two surviving sisters received the Medal of Honor from President George H.W. Bush at the White House. The success of the investigation leading to Stowers' Medal of Honor later sparked a similar review that resulted in seven African Americans being awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in World War II. | Many, believing that the recommendation was intentionally ignored due to institutional racism in the Armed Forces. In 1990, under direction from Congress, the Department of the Army launched an investigation. Based on findings from this investigation, the Army Decorations Board approved the award of the Medal of Honor to Stowers. On April 24, 1991—73 years after he was killed in action—Stowers' two surviving sisters received the Medal of Honor from President George H.W. Bush at the White House. The success of the investigation leading to Stowers' Medal of Honor later sparked a similar review that resulted in seven African Americans being awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in World War II. | ||
<br> | |||
'''Units''' | '''Units''' | ||
Some of the most notable African American units which served in World War I were: | Some of the most notable African American units which served in World War I were: | ||
*92nd Infantry Division | *92nd Infantry Division | ||
*366th Infantry Regiment | *366th Infantry Regiment | ||
| Line 246: | Line 244: | ||
*371st Infantry Regiment | *371st Infantry Regiment | ||
* | *''Complete History of the Colored Soldiers in the World War;'' New York City: Bennett & Churchill, 1919. ''''Online it:'''' [https://archive.org/details/completehistory00unkngoog/page/n2 Internet Archive] | ||
*''African American | *''African American Doctors of World War I : the lives of 104 volunteers'' W. Douglas Fisher and Joann H. Buckley. Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company Inc., Publishers, 2016. {{FSC|3754091|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 M26fw}}; {{WorldCat|917343489|item|disp= At various libraries (WorldCat)}} | ||
'''Second Italo-Abyssinian War''' | '''Second Italo-Abyssinian War''' <br> | ||
On October 4, 1935, Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia. African Americans organized to raise money for medical supplies, and many volunteered to fight for the African kingdom.[1] Within eight months however, it would be overpowered by the advanced weaponry and mustard gas of the Italian forces. | On October 4, 1935, Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia. African Americans organized to raise money for medical supplies, and many volunteered to fight for the African kingdom.[1] Within eight months however, it would be overpowered by the advanced weaponry and mustard gas of the Italian forces. | ||
| Line 255: | Line 253: | ||
Many years later Haile Selassie I would comment on the efforts: "We can never forget the help Ethiopia received from Negro Americans during the crisis... It moved me to know that Americans of African descent did not abandon their embattled brothers, but stood by us." | Many years later Haile Selassie I would comment on the efforts: "We can never forget the help Ethiopia received from Negro Americans during the crisis... It moved me to know that Americans of African descent did not abandon their embattled brothers, but stood by us." | ||
'''Spanish Civil War''' | '''Spanish Civil War'''<br> | ||
African American activist and World War I veteran Oliver Law, fighting in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War, is believed to have been the first African American officer to command white American troops. | African American activist and World War I veteran Oliver Law, fighting in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War, is believed to have been the first African American officer to command white American troops. | ||
''' Related Projects ''' | ''' Related Projects '''<br> | ||
*[http://gsr.park.edu/ George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War] at Park University | |||
*[http://gsr.park.edu/ George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War | |||
*[https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/our-goals.html Valor Medals Review] | *[https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/our-goals.html Valor Medals Review] | ||
''' Related Sources ''' | ''' Related Sources '''<br> | ||
*''African American Army Officers of World War I,'' by Adam P. Wilson. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, 2015. {{FSC|3754161|item|disp= FS Catalog Book 973 M2wap}}; {{WorldCat|907942518|item|disp= At various libraries (WorldCat)}} | |||
*''African American Army Officers of World War I | |||
===World War II (1941-1945)=== | ===World War II (1941-1945)=== | ||
edits