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Archiver > CARIBBEAN > 1999-09 > 0936437673


From: "Edward Crawford" <>
Subject: Re: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment
Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 10:34:33 +0100


I am very sorry. I certainly did not wish to insult your gallant kin. You
will note that my posting started with the words "I have the impression
that". So I did not know. It is a terrible warning about posting something
on the list of which you are not absolutely certain and which in this case
gave great and understandable offence.

I would however defend the proposition that the relative military
contribution of those of Afro-American descent to the US forces has grown
greatly during the past century and that the relative lack of this
contribution in the earlier part of this century was due to the prevailing
racism.
Edward Crawford
-----Original Message-----
From: <>
To: <>;
<>
Date: 04 September 1999 02:47
Subject: Re: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment


>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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