African Americans in World War II facts for kids
During World War II, many brave African Americans joined the U.S. Army. However, even though they served their country, they faced a big challenge called segregation. Segregation meant that people were kept apart based on the color of their skin. In the Army, this meant there were units made up only of black soldiers and other units made up only of white soldiers.
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Roles of African-American Soldiers
At the start of World War II, African-American soldiers usually didn't fight in battles. Instead, they helped the Army in other important ways. Some worked as cooks, keeping everyone fed. Others did maintenance work, making sure equipment was in good shape. Some even served as nurses, caring for the wounded.
As the war went on, black soldiers were finally allowed to join active fighting. They showed incredible bravery and skill on the battlefield.
Famous African-American Units
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Several African-American units became famous for their courage and success:
- The Tuskegee Airmen were the very first group of African-American pilots in the U.S. military. They flew many successful missions.
- The 761st Tank Battalion was the first African-American tank unit to fight in the war. They were known for their strong attacks.
- The 452nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion had fewer than 1,000 soldiers. But they were amazing at shooting down enemy planes, taking down 88 German aircraft. They fought in almost every major land battle alongside the Allied forces.
Brave African-American Heroes
Many individual African-American soldiers became heroes during the war. Their actions showed great courage and helped change how people viewed black servicemen.
Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was a very important leader. He was the commander of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. After the war, he made history again by becoming the first African-American general in the United States Air Force. His father had also been a pioneer, becoming the first African-American brigadier general in the U.S. Army.
Doris Miller
Doris Miller was a Navy cook, but he became a hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor. When Japanese planes attacked, Miller bravely ran to an anti-aircraft gun. Even though he had never been trained to use it, he fired at the enemy aircraft. For his incredible bravery, he was the first African American to receive the Navy Cross, a very high award.
Breaking Barriers: Important Firsts
World War II saw many "firsts" for African Americans in the military, as they broke down old barriers.
- The first African-American woman to serve as a Navy nurse was Phyllis Mae Dailey. She was one of only four black women who served as Navy nurses during the war.
- Joseph C. Jenkins became the first African-American officer to be given a commission in the United States Coast Guard.
- A group known as The Golden Thirteen became the Navy's first African-American commissioned officers. This was a huge step forward.
- Frederick C. Branch became the first African-American officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Steps Toward Desegregation
The bravery of African-American soldiers slowly began to change minds about segregation. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, General Eisenhower needed more soldiers for his all-white companies. He allowed 2,000 black servicemen to join these companies, but they served in separate groups called platoons, led by white officers.
These black platoons fought very well. Not one of them was rated "poor" by the white officers or soldiers they fought alongside. In fact, 84% were rated "very well," and 16% were rated "fairly well." This was a small but very important step toward ending segregation in the military.
Just a few years later, in July 1948, President Harry S. Truman officially ordered the desegregation of all U.S. armed forces. This meant that black and white soldiers would serve together, ending the practice of separate units.
