James Harden Daugherty facts for kids

James Harden Daugherty was an African-American soldier who fought in World War II. He was part of the only all-black infantry division that saw combat in Europe. This was the 92nd Division, and they fought in Italy during the Italian Campaign.

After the war, James Daugherty returned home to Maryland. There, he faced Jim Crow laws, which were unfair rules that separated African Americans from white people. Despite these challenges, Daugherty became the first African American to join the school board in Montgomery County, Maryland. He was also honored for his bravery in the war, receiving the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

He later wrote a book about his experiences called The Buffalo Saga: A Story from World War 28 U.S. Army 92nd Infantry Division known as the Buffalopians.

Joining the Army

During World War II, James Daugherty worked for the U.S. government in Washington, D.C.. He thought his job at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing meant he wouldn't have to join the military. But in December 1943, when he was 19, he received a letter telling him to report for duty.

Daugherty felt very mixed emotions about serving. He lived under Jim Crow laws that took away many rights from African Americans. He wondered why he should fight for freedom in another country when he wasn't fully free in his own. He remembered thinking, "How dare they draft me... when I was living in D.C. and had to go to segregated schools... I was fighting for two evils, the Nazis in Germany and my own country."

Still, he reported for duty. He was assigned to the all-black 92nd Infantry Division. This group was known as the Buffalo Soldiers, a name given to African-American troops by Native Americans long ago.

Fighting in Italy

The 92nd Division faced many dangers and lost many soldiers. Daugherty recalled that the military did not send enough new troops to replace those who were lost. This meant his division had to keep fighting even when their numbers were low. He once asked another soldier why they couldn't get more help. The soldier replied that "they don’t train colored soldiers to fight... you don’t expect them to put white boys in a Negro outfit, do you?"

Daugherty fought in the Italian Campaign in late 1943 and early 1944. His unit was involved in battles between Bologna and Florence. He believed that the 92nd Division was used to keep German troops busy in Italy. This stopped the Germans from fighting against the Soviet Army in eastern Europe or the Allied forces near the Rhine. Daugherty felt this showed that African-American soldiers were seen as less important.

He had a very close call during a mortar attack. A piece of metal shrapnel from an explosion stuck out of his helmet. It missed his skull by less than an inch! Other soldiers were surprised to see him walking around after that.

Life After the War

After the war, Daugherty returned to Maryland and his old job at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. He used money from the G.I. Bill to go to Howard University. He then made history by becoming the first African American on the Montgomery County School Board. This is one of the biggest school districts in the U.S. He also had a great career with the United States Public Health Service and served on the board for the Maryland School for the Deaf.

Daugherty said he didn't get a hero's welcome when he came home. Instead, he and other African-American soldiers returned to the same racial discrimination and segregation they had left. Many years passed before some members of the 92nd Infantry Division received medals. In 1997, two soldiers from the 92nd finally received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Bill Clinton. Daugherty himself received the Bronze Star Medal and a Combat Infantryman Badge.

In his book, Daugherty wrote about how he chose to deal with racism after the war. He asked, "Will you fan it with the winds of freedom, or will you smother it with the sands of humiliation?" He decided to dedicate his life to public health, helping everyone no matter their race.

Sharing His Story

To deal with his feelings about returning to a segregated America, Daugherty wrote his autobiography in 1947. He wrote it by hand, and his wife Dorothy typed many copies. She said it was very emotional for her, "It's like I fought that war, all of the emotions that I experienced—crying, laughing—it was so much a part of me."

After many years, Daugherty finally published his book in 2009 through a company called Xlibris. He was even interviewed on the National Public Radio show All Things Considered. Daugherty was happy that African Americans in the military are no longer separated by race and can reach high positions. However, he still believed that "War is never the answer" for gaining civil rights.

After his book came out, his hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland, declared July 28 as "Buffalo Soldier James Daugherty Day."