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Operation Recognition and Remembrance Press Release Black Servicemen, Women Faced More Than One Enemy in World War II If you were an African-American who served in World War II, you faced more enemies than the German or Japanese soldiers across the line. You faced a social system back home that barred you from certain restaurants, transportation facilities and other amenities that white Americans took for granted. At some point, you might have wondered what you were fighting for. "It must have been an almost schizophrenic situation," said Corey Gray, archival assistant with the Institute of World War II & the Human Experience in Tallahassee. "Here they were being called on to fight the Nazis and Japanese in order to preserve an American way of life that, in many ways, treated them as less than human. The fact that so many African-Americans fought, and fought well, testifies to their patriotism and essential optimism about changing the country afterwards." Gray is coordinator of "Operation Recognition and Remembrance," an outreach program by the Institute designed to collect memoirs, photographs and personal reminiscences by African-American men who served in the armed forces, and African-American women who made a contribution either in the services or on the home front. The program has been under way since February 2003, and according to Gray, is painting a picture of an exciting yet ambiguous period. "We have been pleased with our success so far, but we feel like there is so much more out there. We want to know what it was like for the every day black soldier, sailor or airman and the contributions that he or she made to our country," said Gray. "And we want to know what it was like to live in a segregated society with your husband or father away in the war. What extra burdens were put on black families? How did they cope?" More than 2.5 million African-Americans registered for the draft in World War II, Gray said, and more than 909,000 served in the Army; in fact, 78% of those who registered were in the service branches, which included the quartermaster, engineer, and transportation corps. "I suppose it is true that the most famous black unit in the war was the Tuskegee Airmen," said Gray, "but they were far from the only unit to show great valor. More than 19,000 African-American Marines served in the Pacific, braving Japanese fire on the Pacific beachheads." In almost every case, black soldiers were commanded by white officers, Gray said, a reminder of what life was like in the states and where captured German soldiers were often allowed in the front of railroad cars, while black American soldiers were shunted toward the back. "I like to think they were fighting less for America than for the promise of what America could be," Gray said. "Every time I think about it, I just shake my head in amazement at their fortitude." The role of black women in World War is one which has been consistently undervalued, Gray asserts. More than 6,500 black women enlisted in the Women's Army Corps. Of vital importance was the 6888th Central Postal Battalion, which was responsible for keeping mail flowing to the more than seven million service personnel in Europe. "In recent years, more of the African-American experience in World War II has been revealed," Gray said, "but there is so much more out there. These are the people who won the war and then came home and over the next 20 years changed the nation. In many ways, after 1945, their war continued – and so did their heroism." To be interviewed, to donate wartime documents and photographs, or for more information, contact the Institute at 850-644-9033, e-mail ww2@ww2.fsu.edu or write the Institute on World War II & the Human Experience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. 32306-2200. Other Links related to this project African-Americans' Excerpts of their WWII Experiences FSU Headlines - Features a story about the Institute's African American history project, "Operation Recognition and Remembrance."
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