A concise history of the service records and combat experience of the African American troops who rose above discrimination to fight for the Allied cause and paved the way for integrated armed forces.
About half a million African Americans served overseas during World War II, almost all in segregated second-line units. This artificially limited their potential contribution, but their work - especially along the logistic lifelines of the fighting divisions - was vital. This book summarizes the service of these men and women; and it also focuses on the small proportion who, remarkably, overcame prejudicial barriers to reach the battlefields in combat units of the US forces and Coast Guard.
Their story is illustrated with wartime photographs, and color plates - including portraits of the most outstanding African Americans, the true heirs of the old “Buffalo Soldiers.”
By:
Alexander Bielakowski
Illustrated by:
Raffaele Ruggeri
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: No. 158
Dimensions:
Height: 246mm,
Width: 182mm,
Spine: 6mm
Weight: 240g
ISBN: 9781846030727
ISBN 10: 1846030722
Series: Elite
Pages: 64
Publication Date: 10 November 2007
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
INTRODUCTION: Racial segregation in the US forces – the Selective Service Act – President Roosevelt and Executive Order 8802·US ARMY: General Benjamin O.Davis Sr; US Army Air Corps/Force: Colonel Benjamin O.Davis Jr and the ‘Tuskegee Airmen’ – 99th Fighter Squadron – 33nd Fighter Group – 477th Bombardment Group; Armored Force and Tank Destroyers: 761st Tank Battalion – 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion; Cavalry; Field, Coast and Antiaircraft Artillery; Infantry: 92nd Infantry Division – 93rd Infantry Division – 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion – volunteer infantry replacements, 1945 – Executive Order 9981; support and service troops; life overseas·US NAVY: Steward’s Mate Doris Miller; USS Mason – PC 1264 – Naval Construction Battalions; The Port Chicago Disaster, July 17, 1944 – its aftermath·US MARINE CORPS: Letter of Instruction 421; Gunnery sergeant Gilbert H.Johnson; 51st Defense battalion – 53nd Defense Battalion – other units·OTHER MARITIME SERVICES: US Coast Guard – early integration; US Merchant Marine – SS Booker T Washington·BIBLIOGRAPHY·PLATE COMMENTARIES: Uniforms: US Army – US Navy – US Marine Corps
Alexander M. Bielakowski completed his Ph.D. in U.S. military history at Kansas State University. He has written several articles on various aspects of military history, with a special interest in horse cavalry during the 20th Century. In 2000 he attended the West Point Summer Seminar in Military History at the United States Military Academy, and served as a historical consultant and interviewee for the History Channel documentary """"Animals in Action: Horses"""" (2002). Dr. Bielakowski is an Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Raffaele Ruggeri was born in 1964 in Bologna where he still lives and works. After studying at the Fine Arts Academy he worked in several areas of graphics and design before deciding to devote himself to illustration. He has long been interested in military history and has illustrated a number of books for Osprey.
Reviews for African American Troops in World War II
Author Bielakowski tells the story of these men service by service and covers some of the greatest successes as well as some of the failures. This is all enhanced by quality period photos and the illustrations of R. Ruggeri. In all, a superb book on a part of WWII that gets very little press. A book I can justifiably recommend to you. Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (December 2007)
