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Archiver > CARIBBEAN > 1999-09 > 0936375552


From: "aporter" <>
Subject: Re: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 09:19:12 -0700


With all due respect, I beg to differ.

As a background, my great-grandfather was enlisted with the 92nd Division,
U. S. Army, died in World War I and is buried in the Meuse Argonne Cemetary
in France. The history books will only reveal that a handful of Black
Americans were honoured with medals due to their bravery, all post-humously,
as the American Army refused to recognize their service. I then read the
book "The Unknown Soldier" which also goes into great detail about the fact
that Black Americans were also mistreated and used as labourers. However,
it also details the bravery of the 93rd (I believe) Division who
participated in the ampitheatre of war and was able to stave off the
Germans. Had I not dug deeper I would not have known that fact and would
have accepted the role of our people as proverbial mules.

When I attempted to ascertain information about the BWIRs involvement in
WWI, only one book gave a one paragraph capsulized history of the Regiment.
So, I no longer look to one source for my information.


----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Bond <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 11:02 AM
Subject: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment


> The Blacks, Colored and Indians from the Caribbean were not used in
> COMBAT against Europeans. Egypt is not in Europe. Jews are European in
> this context not Black or Indian.. White Caribbeans were treated as
> European as were the Boers. Blacks were in labor details or used in
> COMBAT against other non Europeans. Even if trained for COMBAT the non
> European units in European theaters were used as labor. There were even
> instances of nonwhite artillery men offered as laborers to relieve white
> labor units.
>
>
> ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ====
> CaribbeanGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw
> Listowner: Carol at or
>
>

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