The color of valor: 24 minority veterans to receive Medal of Honor

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/18/politics/medal-of-honor-vets/index.html

If not for the hue of their skin or their ethnicity, 24 soldiers who faced death in service to their nation would have received the most prestigious medals for their valor long ago.

But they were born and fought in a time when such deeds were not always fairly acknowledged.

On Tuesday, the U.S. government plans to correct the oversight.

President Barack Obama will honor 24 Army veterans with the Medal of Honor -- the country's highest military award, given to American soldiers who display "gallantry above and beyond the call of duty " -- for their combat actions in Vietnam, Korea and World War II.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Denied because of race? I wonder...

William Carney only had to wait 37 years to get his MoH for actions in 1863. So we know blacks have been getting it since 1900.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Denied because of race? I wonder...

William Carney only had to wait 37 years to get his MoH for actions in 1863. So we know blacks have been getting it since 1900.

Just him. His actions preceded any other black person who was awarded it.

His actions at Fort Wagner preceded those of any other black recipient. Ironically, he was not awarded the Medal of Honor for nearly 37 years after the action and thus became the last African-American to be awarded the Medal for Civil War service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Harvey_Carney

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Just him. His actions preceded any other black person who was awarded it.

His actions at Fort Wagner preceded those of any other black recipient. Ironically, he was not awarded the Medal of Honor for nearly 37 years after the action and thus became the last African-American to be awarded the Medal for Civil War service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Harvey_Carney

The last? You mean the first.

LOTS of MoH recipients get them years after the fact. That's sad, but par for the course.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

The last? You mean the first.

LOTS of MoH recipients get them years after the fact. That's sad, but par for the course.

That was the article wording. I think they meant his actions happened before anyone else, but he was the last black person to receive it.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Technically, Robert Blake got his before William Carney, but the action of Carney was prior to Blake.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blake_(Medal_of_Honor)

Either way, "race" didn't preclude MoH recipients as far back as 1864.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Technically, Robert Blake got his before William Carney, but the action of Carney was prior to Blake.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blake_(Medal_of_Honor)

Either way, "race" didn't preclude MoH recipients as far back as 1864.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African-American_Medal_of_Honor_recipients

No African American was awarded a Medal of Honor either during World War II or immediately afterwards with respect to their actions during that conflict. This changed in 1992 when a study conducted by Shaw University and commissioned by the U.S. Dept. of Defense and the United States Army asserted that systematic racial discrimination had been present in the criteria for awarding medals during the war. After an exhaustive review of files the study recommended that several of the Distinguished Service Crosses awarded to African Americans be upgraded to the Medal of Honor. On January 13, 1997, more than fifty years after the end of the war, President Bill Clinton awarded the Medal to seven African American World War II veterans. Vernon Baker was the only living recipient—the other six men had been killed in action or died in the intervening years.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Su and Marvin

[B_J 2,752]

On January 13, 1997, more than fifty years after the end of the war, President Bill Clinton awarded the Medal to seven African American World War II veterans. Vernon Baker was the only living recipient—the other six men had been killed in action or died in the intervening years.

Baker's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism in action on 5 and 6 April 1945, near Viareggio, Italy. Then Second Lieutenant Baker demonstrated outstanding courage and leadership in destroying enemy installations, personnel, and equipment during his company's attack against a strongly entrenched enemy in mountainous terrain. When his company was stopped by the concentration of fire from several machine gun emplacements, he crawled to one position and destroyed it, killing three Germans. Continuing forward, he attacked an enemy observation post and killed two occupants. With the aid of one of his men, Lieutenant Baker attacked two more machine gun nests, killing or wounding the four enemy soldiers occupying these positions. He then covered the evacuation of the wounded personnel of his company by occupying an exposed position and drawing the enemy's fire. On the following night Lieutenant Baker voluntarily led a battalion advance through enemy mine fields and heavy fire toward the division objective. Second Lieutenant Baker's fighting spirit and daring leadership were an inspiration to his men and exemplify the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

Baker's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism in action on 5 and 6 April 1945, near Viareggio, Italy. Then Second Lieutenant Baker demonstrated outstanding courage and leadership in destroying enemy installations, personnel, and equipment during his company's attack against a strongly entrenched enemy in mountainous terrain. When his company was stopped by the concentration of fire from several machine gun emplacements, he crawled to one position and destroyed it, killing three Germans. Continuing forward, he attacked an enemy observation post and killed two occupants. With the aid of one of his men, Lieutenant Baker attacked two more machine gun nests, killing or wounding the four enemy soldiers occupying these positions. He then covered the evacuation of the wounded personnel of his company by occupying an exposed position and drawing the enemy's fire. On the following night Lieutenant Baker voluntarily led a battalion advance through enemy mine fields and heavy fire toward the division objective. Second Lieutenant Baker's fighting spirit and daring leadership were an inspiration to his men and exemplify the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.

That dude is a BadAss.

[Danno 1,228]

A very small percentage of personal get the MOH.

Take WW2 for example, Blacks were a small minority which would reduce their odds and as I recall blacks served in supporting rolls which further removes them from the possibility of being in those events which are required to get that award.

Then there was that whole incident in Australia where our militaries largest rebellion took place as Black troops turned machine guns on tens full of white officers while sleeping... over someone being offended.

Thankfully though 700 rounds were fired..only one person was killed but it certainly feed into concerns about the roll of Blacks in the military and might have even caused bias in the awarding of medals.

But again, when you are in a support role, as most Blacks were... what are the odds you will meet the benchmarks required for the MOH?

Incase you missed this in your Black history class Danno is right here for you-

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-10/historian-reveals-details-on-townsville-mutiny/3821906

An Australian historian has uncovered hidden documents which reveal that African American troops used machine guns to attack their white officers in a siege on a US base in north Queensland in 1942.

Information about the Townsville mutiny has never been released to the public.

But the story began to come to light when James Cook University's Ray Holyoak first began researching why US congressman Lyndon B Johnson visited Townsville for three days back in 1942.

What he discovered was evidence detailing one of the biggest uprisings within the US military.

"For 70 years there's been a rumour in Townsville that there was a mutiny among African-American servicemen. In the last year and a half I've found the primary documentation evidence that that did occur in 1942," Mr Holyoak told AM.

During World War II, Townsville was a crucial base for campaigns into the Pacific, including the Battle of the Coral Sea.

About 600 African-American troops were brought to the city to help build airfields.

Mr Holyoak says these troops, from the 96th Battalion, US Army Corps of Engineers, were stationed at a base on the city's western outskirts known as Kelso.

This was the site for a large-scale siege lasting eight hours, which was sparked by racial taunts and violence.

"After some serial abuse by two white US officers, there was several ringleaders and they decided to machine gun the tents of the white officers," Mr Holyoak said.

He has uncovered several documents hidden in the archives of the Queensland Police and Townsville Brigade detailing what happened that night.

According to the findings, the soldiers took to the machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons and fired into tents where their white counterparts were drinking.

More than 700 rounds were fired.

At least one person was killed and dozens severely injured, and Australian troops were called in to roadblock the rioters.

Mr Holyoak also discovered a report written by Robert Sherrod, a US journalist who was embedded with the troops.

It never made it to the press, but was handed to Lyndon B Johnson at a Townsville hotel and eventually filed away into the National Archives and Records Administration.

"I think at the time, it was certainly suppressed. Both the Australian and the US government would not have wanted the details of this coming out. The racial policies at the time really discluded [sic] people of colour," Mr Holyoak says.

Both the Australian Defence Department and the Australian War Memorial say it could take months to research the incident, and say they have no details readily available for public release.

But Townsville historian Dr Dorothy Gibson-Wilde says the findings validate 70-year-old rumours.

"Anytime it was raised, people usually sort of said, 'Oh you know, no that can't be true. Nobody's heard about that', and in fact it must have been kept pretty quiet from the rest of the town," she said.

Mr Holyoak will spend the next two years researching the sentences handed out to both the officers and the mutineers involved, and why the information has been kept secret for so long.

[deleted-05292014 331]

A very small percentage of personal get the MOH.

Take WW2 for example, Blacks were a small minority which would reduce their odds and as I recall blacks served in supporting rolls which further removes them from the possibility of being in those events which are required to get that award.

Then there was that whole incident in Australia where our militaries largest rebellion took place as Black troops turned machine guns on tens full of white officers while sleeping... over someone being offended.

Thankfully though 700 rounds were fired..only one person was killed but it certainly feed into concerns about the roll of Blacks in the military and might have even caused bias in the awarding of medals.

But again, when you are in a support role, as most Blacks were... what are the odds you will meet the benchmarks required for the MOH?

Incase you missed this in your Black history class Danno is right here for you-

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-10/historian-reveals-details-on-townsville-mutiny/3821906

An Australian historian has uncovered hidden documents which reveal that African American troops used machine guns to attack their white officers in a siege on a US base in north Queensland in 1942.

Information about the Townsville mutiny has never been released to the public.

But the story began to come to light when James Cook University's Ray Holyoak first began researching why US congressman Lyndon B Johnson visited Townsville for three days back in 1942.

What he discovered was evidence detailing one of the biggest uprisings within the US military.

"For 70 years there's been a rumour in Townsville that there was a mutiny among African-American servicemen. In the last year and a half I've found the primary documentation evidence that that did occur in 1942," Mr Holyoak told AM.

During World War II, Townsville was a crucial base for campaigns into the Pacific, including the Battle of the Coral Sea.

About 600 African-American troops were brought to the city to help build airfields.

Mr Holyoak says these troops, from the 96th Battalion, US Army Corps of Engineers, were stationed at a base on the city's western outskirts known as Kelso.

This was the site for a large-scale siege lasting eight hours, which was sparked by racial taunts and violence.

"After some serial abuse by two white US officers, there was several ringleaders and they decided to machine gun the tents of the white officers," Mr Holyoak said.

He has uncovered several documents hidden in the archives of the Queensland Police and Townsville Brigade detailing what happened that night.

According to the findings, the soldiers took to the machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons and fired into tents where their white counterparts were drinking.

More than 700 rounds were fired.

At least one person was killed and dozens severely injured, and Australian troops were called in to roadblock the rioters.

Mr Holyoak also discovered a report written by Robert Sherrod, a US journalist who was embedded with the troops.

It never made it to the press, but was handed to Lyndon B Johnson at a Townsville hotel and eventually filed away into the National Archives and Records Administration.

"I think at the time, it was certainly suppressed. Both the Australian and the US government would not have wanted the details of this coming out. The racial policies at the time really discluded [sic] people of colour," Mr Holyoak says.

Both the Australian Defence Department and the Australian War Memorial say it could take months to research the incident, and say they have no details readily available for public release.

But Townsville historian Dr Dorothy Gibson-Wilde says the findings validate 70-year-old rumours.

"Anytime it was raised, people usually sort of said, 'Oh you know, no that can't be true. Nobody's heard about that', and in fact it must have been kept pretty quiet from the rest of the town," she said.

Mr Holyoak will spend the next two years researching the sentences handed out to both the officers and the mutineers involved, and why the information has been kept secret for so long.

Sure was nice not seeing your posts.....

As usual you are wrong about everything. This Townsville story is a hoax - in fact all research points to the same sources, none of which are American or military, government. There was no coverup because this incident never happened. In fact that picture, which I have seen before, is not associated with any Blacks serving in Australia during WW2.

Blacks only served as support roles? That is false. I challenge you to present any evidence to support that lie. I have uncles that served in combat roles during WW2. In fact, Blacks have fought and died in every single major war this country has ever fought including the civil war - which I'm sure dixie whistlers want to forget.

Why do you even post on VJ ? No one wants to read your racist drivel.

[B_J 2,752]

Didn't read the long posts above mine - but just a reminder that Vernon Baker was a Bad ###. Reading that reminded me of Sgt. York.

[Operator 1,927]

Didn't read the long posts above mine - but just a reminder that Vernon Baker was a Bad ####. Reading that reminded me of Sgt. York.

Most CMH recipients are of the Bad A$$ type. It's humbling to read the citations, always give me goose bumps.

This is a great site that honors these heroes. http://www.cmohs.org/

[Danno 1,228]

Sure was nice not seeing your posts.....

As usual you are wrong about everything. This Townsville story is a hoax - in fact all research points to the same sources, none of which are American or military, government. There was no coverup because this incident never happened. In fact that picture, which I have seen before, is not associated with any Blacks serving in Australia during WW2.

Blacks only served as support roles? That is false. I challenge you to present any evidence to support that lie. I have uncles that served in combat roles during WW2. In fact, Blacks have fought and died in every single major war this country has ever fought including the civil war - which I'm sure dixie whistlers want to forget.

Why do you even post on VJ ? No one wants to read your racist drivel.

Did you notice the difference between my posts and yours?

I actually post more than my valued opinion.

You say the story is false but provide nothing to persuade me of it... other than your word, if the story is Bogus I would like to know.

Pictures accompanying any story do not necessarily go with those events. (do you know what "Getty images are)

No one said "blacks "only" served in support roles. You seem to delight in making up an argument you can win.

They predominantly did. Did you not learn anything from the Clint Eastwood- Spike lee dust up?

The reason no blacks were in his film was because Blacks played a supporting role in the operation. (Their heroism ferreting ammo to the front line under the worst conditions was an indispensable part of the operation)

The board works a lot better when you actually counter my view with fact or reason...... name calling is beneath the level of discourse that the TOS require.

You can do better.

[deleted-05292014 331]

Did you notice the difference between my posts and yours?

I actually post more than my valued opinion.

You say the story is false but provide nothing to persuade me of it... other than your word, if the story is Bogus I would like to know.

Pictures accompanying any story do not necessarily go with those events. (do you know what "Getty images are)

No one said "blacks "only" served in support roles. You seem to delight in making up an argument you can win.

They predominantly did. Did you not learn anything from the Clint Eastwood- Spike lee dust up?

The reason no blacks were in his film was because Blacks played a supporting role in the operation. (Their heroism ferreting ammo to the front line under the worst conditions was an indispensable part of the operation)

The board works a lot better when you actually counter my view with fact or reason...... name calling is beneath the level of discourse that the TOS require.

You can do better.

African Americans in World War II

Fighting for a Double Victory

African Americans served bravely and with distinction in every theater of

World War II, while simultaneously struggling for their own civil rights from

“the world’s greatest democracy.” Although the United States Armed Forces

were officially segregated until 1948, WWII laid the foundation for post-war

integration of the military. In 1941 fewer than 4,000 African Americans were

serving in the military and only twelve African Americans had become

officers. By 1945, more than 1.2 million African Americans would be serving

in uniform on the Home Front, in Europe, and the Pacific (including

thousands of African American women in the Women’s auxiliaries).

During the war years, the segregation practices of civilian life spilled over into

the military. The draft was segregated and more often than not African Americans were passed over

by the all-white draft boards. Pressure from the NAACP led President Roosevelt to pledge that

African Americans would be enlisted according to their percentage in the population. Although this

percentage, 10.6%, was never actually attained in the services during the war, African American

numbers grew dramatically in the Army, Navy, Army Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard.

While most African Americans serving at the beginning of WWII were assigned to non-combat units

and relegated to service duties, such as supply, maintenance, and transportation, their work behind

front lines was equally vital to the war effort. Many drove for the famous “Red Ball Express,” which

carried a half million tons of supplies to the advancing First and Third Armies through France. By

1945, however, troop losses virtually forced the military to begin placing more African American troops

into positions as infantrymen, pilots, tankers, medics, and officers in increasing numbers. In all

positions and ranks, they served with as much honor, distinction, and courage as any American

soldier did. Still, African American MPs stationed in the South often could not enter restaurants where

their German prisoners were being served a meal.

On D-Day, the First Army on Omaha and Utah Beaches included about 1,700 African American

troops. This number included a section of the 327th Quartermaster Service Company and the 320th

Anti-Aircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion, which protected troops on the beach from aerial attack. Soon

the all-black 761st Tank Battalion was fighting its way through France with Patton’s Third Army. They

spent 183 days in combat and were credited with capturing 30 major towns in France, Belgium, and

Germany.

The Army Air Force also established several African American fighter and bomber groups. The

famous “Tuskegee Airmen” of the 332nd Fighter Group became part of the 15th Air Force, flying ground

support missions over Anzio and escorting bombers on missions over Southern Italy. The Tuskegee

Airmen flew more than 15,000 sorties May 1943 and June 1945. Bomber crews often requested to be

escorted by these “Redtails,” a nicknamed acquired from the painted tails of Tuskegee fighter planes.

Sixty-six Tuskegee Airmen died in combat.

Stephen Ambrose identified the lamentable American irony of WWII, writing, “The world’s greatest

democracy fought the world’s greatest racist with a segregated army” (Ambrose, Citizen Soldier).

During the global conflict, African American leaders and organizations established the “Double V”

campaign, calling for victory against the enemy overseas and victory against racism at home. This

new black consciousness and the defiant rejection of unjustifiable racism planted important seeds for

the post-War civil rights movement.

The National WWII Museum honors the contributions of African Americans in Word War II

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/assets/pdfs/african-americans-in-world.pdf

Edited March 22, 2014 by Jinx614