B*N*S*N2

Army commemorates 60th anniversary of Armed Forces Integration

Jul 24, 2008
BY Col. Jonathan Dahm


Fighting with the 2nd Infantry Division
north of the Chongchon River,
Sgt. 1st Class Major Cleveland, weapons
squad leader, points out a North Korean
position to his integrated machine-gun crew
Nov. 20, 1950. Photo by James Cox

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 24, 2008) -- On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, establishing the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. It was accompanied by Executive Order 9980, which created a Fair Employment Board to eliminate racial discrimination in federal employment.

Segregation in the military services did not officially end until the Secretary of Defense announced on Sept. 30, 1954 that the last all-black unit had been abolished. However, the president's directive put the armed forces at the forefront of the growing movement to win an equal social role and equal treatment for the nation's African-American citizens.

The Army began integrating units during the Korean War. Eighth Army commanders in Korea began filling losses in their white units with individuals from a surplus of black replacements arriving in Japan in late 1950. By early 1951, 9.4 percent of all African-Americans arriving in theater were serving in some 41 newly and unofficially integrated units, according to retired Army historian Morris J. MacGregor Jr. in his book, Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965 . ...

There are some really GREAT articles, and the rest of this one, here.

There is also the text of President Bush's Proclamation related to this important anniversary, (and more great articles) here.