African American Veterans and Pioneers in Military History

African Americans played significant roles in military history, from the Tuskegee Airmen breaking barriers in WWII to Doris Miller's heroic actions at Pearl Harbor and Harriet M. West Waddy's advocacy for African American women in the military during WWII. Their stories highlight courage, resilience, and the fight for equality in the armed forces.

• African American
• Veterans
• Military History
• Equality
• Tuskegee Airmen

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1. African American African American Veterans Veterans

2. Tuskegee Airmen Tuskegee Airmen In the 1930 s, African Americans fought for the right to be allowed to serve in the Army Air Corps. In 1941, the Army created a segregated program to train Black pilots and ground personal at Moton Field and Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama. The Airmen served with distinction during World War II and paved the way for desegregation of armed forces in 1948. The Tuskegee Airmen from the 332nd Fighter Group racked up a list of achievements in North Africa in 1943. They shot down 112 enemy planes, flew 1491 combat missions and earned 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses. After World War II, the 332nd Fighter Group relocated to Lockbourne Army Airfield outside of Columbus, OH. Today it is Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. The last African American unit was disbanded in 1949 following President Harry S. Truman s order to desegregate the U.S. military.

3. Doris Miller Doris Miller Miller joined the Navy as a mess attendant, one of the few jobs available for African Americans, and steadily rose through the ranks to ship's cook. Miller was stationed aboard the USS West Virginia when Pearl Harbor was attacked. During the attack, Miller carried the wounded to safety which included was the USS West Virginia s commander, Captain Mervyn Bennion, who was mortally wounded in the attack. Miller later manned a .50 calibre antiaircraft gun, on which he was not trained, and fired at the enemy until he ran out of ammunition. Miller s actions earned him commendations from Secretary of Navy Frank Knox as well as the Navy Cross. Miller died in 1943 when a torpedo sank his ship, the escort carrier Liscome Bay. In June of 1973, the navy commissioned a frigate, the USS Miller.

4. Harriet M. West Harriet M. West Waddy Waddy During World War II, approximately 6,500 African American women signed on with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Despite their willingness to serve, some women were relegated to positions as glorified housekeepers. Despite the inequality, Harriet completed her Women s Army Corps (WAC) training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. During her WAC service, she graduated from The Adjutant General s School of the Army and was placed in charge of 50 civilian typists. It was West Waddy s responsibility to see that letters were written to notify families of soldiers who were killed, wounded, or missing in action. She used her rank of major to take an active role in changing the status of African American women in the military. She was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1948, retired in 1952 and was in the reserves until 1969.

5. Sources: Tuskegee Airmen: https://www.loc.gov/item/2007675064/ Title: [Photograph of several Tuskegee airmen at Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945] Summary: Photograph shows several Tuskegee airmen. Front row, left to right: unidentified airman; Jimmie D. Wheeler (with goggles); Emile G. Clifton (cloth cap) San Francisco, CA, Class 44-B. Standing left to right: Ronald W. Reeves (cloth cap) Washington, DC, Class 44-G; Hiram Mann (leather cap); Joseph L. "Joe" Chineworth (wheel cap) Memphis, TN, Class 44-E; Elwood T. Driver? Los Angeles, CA, Class 44-A; Edward "Ed" Thomas (partial view); Woodrow W. Crockett (wheel cap); at Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945. (Source: Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group pilots.) Contributor Names: Frissell, Toni, 1907-1988, photographer Created / Published: [1945 March] Subject Headings: United States.--Army Air Forces.--Fighter Group, 332nd--People--1940-1950 African Americans--Military service--1940-1950 World War, 1939-1945--African Americans Italy World War, 1939-1945--Air operations--American Italy Fighter pilots--American--Italy--1940-1950 Headings: Film negatives--1940-1950. Genre: Film negatives--1940-1950 Library of Congress Control Number: 2019635222 Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-13259 (digital file from original neg.) Notes: Title devised by Library staff. Also available as contact sheet in LOT 12447-1. Forms part of: Toni Frissell Collection (Library of Congress). Published in: "War" chapter of the ebook Great Photographs from the Library of Congress, 2013. Exhibited as a digital copy in: "Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from America's Library" at the Annenberg Space for Photography, 2018; Military section.

6. Sources: Doris Miller: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doris_(Dorie)_Miller_in_un iform_at_Pearl_Harbor_(10006682).jpg Description: English: SC2 Doris (Dorie) Miller, United States Navy, after receiving the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor for heroism on the USS West Virginia. Date: March 1942 Source: UTA Libraries Digital Gallery Author: Emerson Emory Papers

7. Sources: Harriet West Waddy: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017839521/ Title: Washington, D.C. Second Lieutenant Harriet West of the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps Contributor Names: Parks, Gordon, 1912-2006, photographer Created / Published: 1942 Nov. Subject Headings: United States--District of Columbia--Washington (D.C.) Headings: Safety film negatives. Genre: Safety film negatives Library of Congress Control Number: 2017839521 Reproduction Number: LC-USW3-010679-C (b&w film neg.) Notes: Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsaowi Temp. note: owibatch2 Film copy on SIS roll 4, frame 1144. Medium: 1 negative: safety; 4 x 5 inches or smaller.