Black History Month: ‘Honoring the Past, Securing the Future’

The Department of Defense (DoD) is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of World War II by recognizing the contributions and sacrifices made by service members as well as those who served on the home front.

The United States remains forever indebted to WWII veterans, who demonstrated selfless service and sacrifice in defense of global peace and security.

We remember the legacy of the “Greatest Generation” by “Honoring the past, Securing the Future.”

During the anniversary, we pay tribute to those Americans who undauntedly and courageously contributed to the defense of our nation. Often overlooked are the valiant efforts of African Americans. This month, the DoD pays tribute to these men and women who not only forever changed the course of history but also redefined the United States military.

Over 2.5 million African-American men registered for the draft, and Black women volunteered in large numbers.

While serving in the Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard, and War Department they served with distinction, made valuable contributions to the war effort, and earned well-deserved praise and commendations for their struggles and sacrifices.

One notable unit was the U.S. Army’s 452nd Anti- Aircraft Artillery Battalion. Comprising fewer than 1,000 soldiers, the 452nd was an all-African-American mobile anti-aircraft artillery unit of the U.S. Army during the Second World War. The unit is credited with having destroyed 88 German warplanes, 68 of which were fully confirmed kills and 19 partially confirmed kills.

Another often overlooked unit was the Women’s Army Corps 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion.

Led by Cmdr. Charity Adams Earley, the 6888 was an all-Black, female group of 824 enlisted women and 31 officers. The “Six Triple Eight” had a specific mission: to sort and clear a two-year backlog of mail for Americans stationed in Europe. Between the service members, Red Cros, and uniformed civilian specialists, there were seven million people awaiting their mail. The 6888’s motto became, “No Mail, Low Morale.”

Divided into three, separate, eight-hour shifts, the women of the 6888 worked around the clock, seven days a week. They kept track of seven million identification cards with serial numbers to distinguish between soldiers with the same names. They investigated incomplete addresses and returned mail addressed to soldiers who had been killed.

Back on the home front, the U.S. Coast Guard undertook the federal government’s first official experiments in desegregation by sending African- American officer candidates through its Coast Guard Academy-based Reserve Officer Training Program. By late 1943, they had assigned 50 Black commissioned officers and enlisted men to the Coast Guard-manned USS Sea Cloud.

By 1945, the USCG had appointed three Black officers as ship commanders. In addition, five African- American women enlisted to become SPARS (U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve); they were the first Black females to don a Coast Guard uniform.

By the end of the war, 5,000 African Americans had served in the USCG with one of every five reaching petty officer or warrant officer levels.

African Americans played an immeasurable role in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, serving bravely and with distinction from the initial attack on Pearl Harbor to the last days of the Pacific campaign, and they continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces with great valor and distinction.