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Archiver > CARIBBEAN > 1999-09 > 0936409653
From: <>
Subject: Re: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 21:47:33 EDT
Mr. Crawford,
Excuse me, but you have really gone too far. It is an insult to the memory
of my departed father and the thousands of other African American soldiers
who fought valiantly in Italy, France, and Germany for you to state: "There
were a few all black units in 1941-1945 but again most Blacks were used in
non-combat roles." As an infantry officer (lieutenant), my father received
the Silver Star, the third highest medal a soldier in the United State Army
can receive, for bravery in combat. He served in an all-black combat unit in
Italy and was not the only soldier to be decorated for bravery in combat
against white Europeans.
In point of fact, the U. S. military was integrated by Executive Order of
President Harry Truman before the Korean War. The fact is that African
Americans have served in combat roles throughout the history of the United
States, irrespective of whether they were in segregated or mixed units.
Your statement: "By the Vietnam war many people were only too glad to give
poor minorities a disproportionately large combat role," reeks of covert
racism. My brother was a captain in the infantry and a college graduate when
he was killed in combat in Vietnam. He, too, earned the Silver Star for
bravery in combat. Both of my parents had master's degrees and were salaried
professionals. Two of my grandparents had college degrees, and one was a
physician. Yes, African Americans served gallantly and disproportionately in
Vietnam, but we were/are not all "poor minorities."
By the way, my father graduated from college in 1942 and went into the army
as a second lieutenant. He did not need to take advantage of the GI Bill to
get his education. He served his country well and did not use it to improve
himself.
Please refrain from making statements which are not only grossly inaccurate,
but also equally unfair to people about whom you know nothing.
That you can make such bald, patently false statements and spread them as the
gospel is unconscionable. You are misleading members of the list who trust
your word, and you have denigrated the contributions of many men who put
their lives on the line for a country which still adheres to thinking as you
apparently do.
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