Influence of Specific Race Regiments in WWII on Modern US Military - Research Paper Example

?Influence of specific race regiments in WWII on modern U.S military Influence of specific race regiments in WWII on modern U.Smilitary Introduction The United State of America was segregated by race during the First World War. The blacks, Mexicans, and Japanese Americans in the U.S army were poorly equipped and trained. Similarly, this racial policy persisted till the period of the Second World War. On the contrary, despite the racism in United States, it was noted that it pioneered for antiracism campaigns that was common among the Nazi. Most often, the African-Americans and the Japanese-American military were turned away from restaurants and officer’s clubs. The presence of racial segregation in the United States armed forces depicted the widespread segregation mostly in the Black-American south. They were banned from visiting white dominated regions and had to attend inferior schools. Attempts to fight for their rights was met by terrorism and lynching such as the Ku Klux Klan. Nevertheless, the outbreak of the Second World War and deficiency of manpower led to enrollment of other races in the army such as the Africans, Mexicans, and Japanese. Their contribution and the success of wars led to recognition and desegregation by other leaders and American citizens. To evaluate the contribution of these individuals in the Army, this paper will analyze the Navajo code talkers, Buffalo soldiers, and the 442nd Japanese unit regiment. Buffalo Soldiers Most of the United State history centers on The Gold Rush, Gunfights, Indians, and Cowboys. However, the contribution of the black in the West expansion was of little knowledge. This is based on the fact that enslavement and racism was at a higher rate despite the insinuation that it was a Free State. In regards to this perception, enslavement was more of a mental than physical aspect (Fioner, 1965). The Black Americans contribution was realized in several areas of U.S development such as commerce, wars and in the ranches. Unlike the prevailing misconception that the present Americans achievement is founded on the accomplishments of the Caucasians, Blacks had immense contribution than the natives. The misconception is based on imprisonment of the blacks and the little efforts they made were met with less credit (Katz, 1967). In America, Blacks were thought to be inferior thus hindering their advances if they could have been given a chance. Despite the presence of many obstacles, Blacks were able to struggle in aiding the America west expansion. The wars offered the Blacks with an opportunity to explore America and make their way out from the South and at large to break the social situation of racism. Though United States approved Blacks enlisting in the war, they were not protected from the Indians since they were placed in the war fronts (Fioner, 1965). As a result, Blacks’ residents and forts were abandoned. Racism was at its highest order since the Easterners and Southern U.S population despised the presence of Negro soldiers in their community or their neighborhood. Similarly, Blacks were excluded from general employment prospects. Therefore, the enrollment in the military was welcomed since they were sure of pension, shelter, medical attention, steady pay, and education once recruited in the forces. Though initial recruitment was dedicated to filling quotas regardless of the recruits’ soldiering skills and capability, constant replacements at the place of work called for recruitment of enlightened and educated Blacks. Black soldiers in the U.S war against Indians, fought with the zeal to win and devoted their lives in wars in regard to their own personal believes. They perceived to gain equality and respect they had suffered under slavery. Nevertheless, United States development that was based on enslavement could not grant this component of freedom through devotion to war. Life and death struggles characterized the Blacks’ efforts in the hostile environments that they were constantly relocated. Their loyalty to United States army was constantly tested by outsiders and Indians since their friends died in the war. In their daily work in the army in safeguarding whites, Indians, towns, arms shipments, homesteads, and telegraph and railroad lines, they were constantly ambushed and killed (Katz, 1967). Moreover, most Black soldiers were murdered and shot by snipers but the perpetuators of these crimes were never punished. The White communities imprisoned Black soldiers without viable reason. In addition, the Indians tortured the Blacks by exposing them to extreme cold or heat. The Buffalo soldiers, a name the Black soldiers were identified, executed their duty in regard to U.S law and order. The Black solders aimed to abolish segregation and racism that was constantly perpetuated by the army. The Buffalo Soldiers established several forts which came to be used for educational purpose such as the Concho Fort. Black and White troops merged together due to the necessities of military life. The bravery portrayed by the Black soldiers in the America West earned them the title Buffalo soldiers (Fioner, 1965). Since they fearlessly ventured into war zones, Black soldiers defended the Whites in America West. Through their allegiance to the nation’s oath, the Buffalo soldiers fought to better the life and name in America. Navajo, Code Talkers During World War II, which lasted for about four years (1942-1945), approximately 50,000 New Mexicans were involved in almost every assault the United States marine forces raged on areas such as Peleju, Tarawa, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal in the pacific. Apart from the wars against the Japanese, they fought alongside American against Italy and Germany (Nez & Avila, 2011). Navajo Code Talkers, a group from Arizona and New Mexico played an important role during these invasions because they helped the Marine Corps in relaying messages by radio. The need for a military code was realized due to the supremacy of Japanese arms, equipment and position. The American armed force military code was constantly broken by their enemies which led to their poor performance in the battlefield. The Navajos were the appropriate individuals who could design a military code for invasions and combat that the enemies could not break. Though the suggestion by Philip Johnston, a white man, to enlist Navajo into the marine to facilitate sending, receiving and translating quick messages over the radio was met with prejudice, it was later agreed. Johnston’s suggestion was based on the fact that he had been brought up in the Navajo reservation and had understood the intricate tonal qualities and complex phrases of the Navajo language. Similarly, his acquaintance with the military search for undecipherable code in the World War I while at the Navajo reservation gave him an upper hand to propose enrollment of New Mexicans in the American Armed forces despite the racial discrimination that was dominant at that time. The U. S army used words developed in Navajo language to describe complex military operations and equipments. Logical association was the basis of Navajo word selection to define military terms such as “nihima” for America and “frog” for operations, “birds” for airplanes, “buzzards” for a bomber, “crow ” for a patrol plane and “a humming bird” for a fighter plane (Asseng & Hawthorne, 1994). According to Johnston, the U.S military prerequisite for an undecipherable communication code was achieved through the complexity of the unwritten language of Navajo. It was based on its tonal and syntax qualities. Similarly, incomprehensibility was achieved easily without extensive exposure and training of Navajo language due to its dialect. It had neither written symbols nor alphabets (Kawano & Gorman, 1990). The twenty nine recruits who took part in the invention were ascribed to working on a special service and were expected to memorize several phrases and words that were often different from their native culture. As a result, the developed communication system was beyond the other Mexicans comprehension. Navajo code talkers’ achievement led the U.S military to embrace other nationalities as equals. This is exemplified by the success of the American armed forces in the second world wars against the Japanese, Italians, and Germans. The speedy messages transmission in Navajo saved many U.S marines. The value of the communication code was recognized many years after the end of WWII. Indecipherability of the Navajo code was exemplified by its use in other U.S wars such as 1950’s Korea war and the 1960’s Vietnam War (Nez & Avila, 2011). Moreover, it built the Americas armed forces trust in other races since Navajo communication code helped them in wars. Recognition was done by honoring the remaining members with congressional medals and museum exhibition. Thus, the course of war changed apart from the innumerable lives that were saved by code talkers. 442nd Japanese Infantry Regiment The 442nd Japanese Infantry Regiment refers to the second generation of young Japanese rather Nisei unit that was formed to fight in Southern France and in Italy. The unit was established in order to eliminate the probable confusion in the Pacific since young Japanese men were eager to revolt against the axis power that the army had generated in the Japanese-American units (Israel, 2005). To affirm their motto “Go for Broke,” the unit was known for its determination and bravery in the pacific wars. Its formation was intrigued by the demand for manpower by the 100th battalion war department. Recruitment of the military personnel involved both Americans and Japanese volunteers. Though 2100 Japanese were recruited, they felt that the unit that was created was a strategy by the white military to protect themselves. Also, their reluctance to join the army was based on the fact that the elegance forms required the Japanese to denounce their nationality. In regards to this, most Japanese youth felt that it was an insult to their emperor. The Caucasians held the official position in the regiments. The group participated in several wars such as the wars at Luciana, Belvedere, and Livorno. The casualty percentage of Japanese-American units was rated at 314 percent. Recognition for the lost lives of the volunteers was made through awards for their courage and bravery in the battle fields. Just like the African-Americans dedication in the Second World War, the Japanese-Americans were honored by President Truman for their devotion to wars in Italy and Southern France (Jerkins, 2004). The Armed Forces was desegregated in order to allow equality and fare enrolment. The success of the war was ascribed to role the Japanese Americans played. More importantly was the war against Japan where they acted as translators and interpreters. Their service in the Military Intelligence Service was manifested in their ability to capture Japanese secret communication thus making orders to Japanese officers and quick elucidations of their enemies’ military communication code. Their involvement was significantly felt at Saipan and Okinawa. They calmed down terrified civilians due to the terror threats that were propagated by their Japanese government. They also convinced some Japanese soldiers till they surrendered. Despite the 442nd impeccable service that earned the rest of Japanese-soldiers respect, the West Coast perceptions of these soldiers were different from that accorded to the Americans soldiers. Though the 442nd regiment survivors had earned the country victory in the wars, they were reunited with their families who had been placed in isolation camps (Israel, 2005). Similarly, the Japanese war veterans were harshly treated in their homes. Their residents were constantly set a blaze or vandalized and most restaurants and local shops dined offering their services to them. Though some soldiers were disbanded from wars during Italy’s post-war occupation duty due to their Japanese ancestry, President Harry Truman honored their efforts by pinning the seventh Presidential Unit Citation on the 442nd unit’s color. The reactivation of 442nd regiment unit in Hawaii following its inactivation in Honolulu proved the unit as an organized reserve unit. The recent recognition of the Asian Pacific Americans veterans of the U.S Army Second World War was held on 21 day of June in 2000. The move was an effort towards correction of the racial prejudice that had characterized United States during WWII. In regards to this recognition, the 442nd Japanese infantry earned a total of twenty-one medals. Banning of segregation in the U.S army President Truman led to end of racial discrimination (Jerkins, 2004). Conclusion In conclusion, during the Second World War, most Americans from all ethnicities had immense contribution in the success of the Americas Armed Forces. However, there were little changes in regards to the position of the minorities. Prejudice that was common in united state led to denial of services in restaurants and cafes to war veterans. Due to the civil rights awareness, America changed forever. Equality was established in the United States armed forces. Desegregation that was announced by President Truman simplified the birth of nation that valued efforts and dedication of each citizen regardless of the race. Moreover, the recent recognition of the Japanese veterans who participated in the 442nd unit operation in south France and Italy signified the correction of prejudice acts that were perpetuated during the Second World War. Therefore, the participation of the Americans of different nationalities in the WWII had beneficial outcomes. References Asseng, N. & Hawthorne, R. O. (1994). Navajo code talkers. New York, NY: Walker Children’s. Foner, J. D. (1965). Blacks and the military in American West New York: a new perspective. New York: Praeger Publishers. Israel, D. (2005). The day the thunderbird cried: Untold stories of World War II. New Jersey, NJ: Emek Press. Jerkins, M. (2004). The last ridge: The epic story of America’s first mountain soldiers and the assault on Hitler’s Europe. New York, NY: Random House Trade. Katz, W. L. (1967). Black pioneers: An untold story. Dallas: Taylor and Sons. . Kawano, K. & Gorman, C. (1990). Warriors: Navajo code talkers. New York, NY: Cooper Square Publishing LIc. Nez, C. & Avila, J. S. (2011). Code talker: The first and only memoir by one of the original Navajo code talkers of WWII. New York, NY: Berkely. Read More