There were no all-Hispanic or all-Oriental and, really, no all-Caucasian units in the D-Day landings so that would put the 320th one up on everyone else. Give it a freaking rest already, will ya?

Lest you forget these brave men offered their lives in pursuit of liberty, equality, and civility. It seems that some Europeans have forgotten the suffering that ideaologies justifying racial supremacy have caused. The right is again attempting to justify racial inferiority in Europe. The good news is the Socialist have lost seats while the bad news is that rightwing racists have gained seats. History repeats itself those that have forgotten should be told there is no new problem in politics. Recession has again caused repression that is leading towards oppression. The powers in Europe need to know that repression of minorities or the poor is not the answer to problems it is the problem. Forced labor whether it is rightwing fascism or leftwing socialism is the danger not the remedy to the economic situation. Racial supremacy is a failed ideaology. Religious fanatism is a failed military tatic as well. Japan and Germany can attest to as much if the facts be told. What is needed is representative democracy conducted in a civil manner.

Instead of noting the collective sacrifice of those brave men 65 years ago on foreign beaches, we must single out one unit and point out the segregation.

The 320th did nothing more or nothing less than any other serviceman on that important, yet tragic day.

Honor them all.

What is the harm in pointing out the achievements of this group? This is a blog about race. If you don’t like it, dont come on the blog. These men were protecting a country that was denying them basic freedoms enjoyed by many others. The United States singled these men out. I do not see the problem giving them the same courtesy now in a positive way.

What part of “Honor them all” did you not get Clyde?

Every man that took part whether toting a rifle through the waves to the guys that fed many of them the last meal, they ALL should be honored.

May they ALL rest peacefully. Thank you so much.
- American Freedom

The last I looked all humans bleed red.

Not that facts or history mean much here, but for those interested go to:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/index.htm#contents

From the forward:
“The principal problem in the employment of Negro Americans as soldiers in World War II was that the civilian backgrounds of Negroes made them generally less well prepared than white Americans to become soldiers or leaders of men. This problem was greatly complicated by contemporary attitudes and practices in American society that tended further to inhibit the most efficient use of Negroes in military service. Despite these handicaps Negro soldiers played a larger role in the most recent great war than in any previous American conflict. While the bulk of the more than half a million of them who were overseas by early 1945 were serving in supply and construction units, many were directly engaged with the enemy on the ground and in the air. If proportionately fewer Negroes became combat troops than the Army had contemplated in its prewar mobilization plans, this was true for white soldiers as well. Global war generated a need for service troops far greater than anyone visualized before Pearl Harbor, as well as a need to use all able-bodied Americans regardless of color or other distinction in military or civilian support of the war effort.

The integration of whites and Negroes in the armed forces of the United States in the early 1950’s and the continued rapid advance of Negroes in the American economic and social order have substantially altered the circumstances governing their use as soldiers a quarter century ago. Nevertheless another full mobilization of American manpower for national defense would again bring to the fore many of the problems described in this volume. Dr. Lee’s work embodies a record of service of which Americans generally can be proud, and for which the country is grateful.

Washington, D. C.
18 June 1965

HAL C. PATTISON
Brigadier General, U. S. A.
Chief of Military History”

Amazedbythelunacy

They are, as they should be, all honored. What don’t you get that this is honoring one particular unit, the 320th. There are articles and events all over that honor platoons, units, and individual soldiers (all of the honors deserved). Do you go to every sight that honors a specific unit or soldier and tell them that they should be honoring everyone, or did you just choose this one?

Ron,

Thanks for your note re these American heroes. It is a great testament that in spite of bias and condescension from their white counterparts, these brave black men, and many other blacks who served in anonymity, served their country with honor and asked only for acceptance in return.

The award wasn’t even from our government. It was from the French, who wouldn’t have to honor the military men from other countries if they had been any good at defending France themselves.

I have no problem honoring this veteran for the job he did, and I am thankful to him and all over veterens for the continued freedoms originally enshrined in the Constitution.