African American Soldiers in WWI - Assignment Example

Running Head: AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN WWI Officers in the American army had worked really hard to bring together the U.S citizens into a single unit, they wanted to rid of the old global identities that were centered on ethnicity and encouraged a total Americanism. However, the American population in general, inclusive of the government and the army alike, was not for the inclusion of the 400,000 Americans of African descent and who were serving in the U.S army. This was in the context of the Great War as per common citizenship definition. America entered the war with a view of making the ‘world Safe for democracy.’ Irony, however, was in the fact that black soldiers had been awarded by the Nation in terms of denigration, exclusion as well as disdain. (America’s Great War, Zieger 2001) This is a study set out to fulfill the purpose of comprehensively answering the question, “What was the role played by African American soldiers in the WWI?” The study will go on and present a conclusion based on the findings of the same. At the point where the U.S.A made an entry to the war, there were around 10,000 soldiers of black descent serving in the four-grouped regiments. Another group of black soldiers were put into the units of National Guard and here also segregation basis was applied. During the WWI, about four million American men got inducted into the US Armed Forces. Only 13% of these inducted men were African Americans. During the process of induction the US marines blocked entry with regard to blacks. However, the U.S navy had a rather small soft spot since it allowed in about 5,000 black men, but serving in the capacities of mess boys and stewards. Majority of the African Americans serving in the forces were allocated to do tasks in the transport, stevedore, labor and the engineering departments. The African Americans spent most of their time in the overseas building roads as well as escarpments, unloading ships, digging fortifications and also burying and retrieving the dead persons. As a matter of fact most of the officers were white. (Zieger, 2001) Discrimination was evident in the roles provision to the African American soldiers. Their role, besides this fact, portrayed determination as well. According to Orr, about 350,000 African Americans had a desire to work in the US army-To fight for their nation. But their willingness had a big handle to clear, that of racial prejudice by the fellow soldiers of White descent. Most African Americans soldiers served as support troops and just few were involved in the real combat tasks. The French, though, appreciated at high levels the African American soldiers. This was evident since a total of 117 black soldiers were given the Legion of Honor by France whilst none of these soldiers were awarded the US’ Congressional Medal of Honor then. This oversight was, however to be corrected after years. The African American soldiers, despite their being not acknowledged by their fellow whites, made enormous contributions. A major contribution and which was highly notable to the war, was the initiation of Blues and Jazz music. Many of the Regiments had African Americans in their bands. Most of the members in the troops sincerely had joyous moments when listening to the music made by black soldiers especially in the mute moments of the Great War. Of the bands which were conducted by the US army and their allies, the one led by James R. Europe was the most conspicuous. Europe was also famous for his self commitment to the band not only music wise but also his new dancing style. In spite of their great part in the war’s contribution, they still were sidelined. African American leaders had a hard time to prevent the discrimination, during the greater war and before its inception. Black soldiers were allowed into the French Army, which admired them, as Harlem Hell fighters or the 369th infantry regiment. The 369th regiment was the first African American infantry in the Great War. The Harlem Hell fighters were known not to be allocated combat training duties in France. They were instead given labor service tasks, while awaiting further duty allocation. In 1918 the unit was assigned by US as a unit in the French Army as long as the U.S was participating in WWI. After this, they continued to have their US Army outfits but were given the French army Helmets. The Harlem Hell fighters were, however, were relieved in mid 1918 and were sent to the trenches, where they served for about two months. (Critical perspectives on World War 1, Orr, 2005) During the age of imperialism of America that ran from 1898 to 1916 African American soldiers played a very great role. They went on to prove themselves later in the WWI, when the US army entered the war in 1917. The soldiers who were in both 92nd as well as 93rd divisions and who were of African descent were highly admired by the French. They even went on to earn the service cross which was bestowed a great deal of importance. Black soldiers who got wounded during the WWI were about 5,000 while those who lost their lives were around 750. The stakeholders in the war like Philippines, Spanish, Germans and Mexicans saw the outstanding bravery of the black soldier. (Rayford W. Logan and the Dilemma of the African, Janken, 1997) African Americans were especially very eager to join the army that fought in the WWI, but the federal government made it hard for them to get enrolled. The training of black officers was pushed from many angles where some of the organizations played a great role. A major organization was NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of colored people). Some of officials from the government, however still regarded it hard for blacks to join the army because of the racism issue. Later a compromise was reached and this saw the acceptance of 1,000 blacks to join an officer candidate school. These comprised of black graduates from college. Howard University located in Washington D.C, which was an all-black University, had a desire to host this camp. Despite this, the federal government still insisted that the black cadets were bound to fail. To save their public face, the government thus pushed these trainees to the forgotten Iowa’s cavalry post. Subsequently, in the year 1917 officer candidates of blacks descent made their entry at Fort Des Moines. These cadets were from Yale, Harvard Howard and Tuskeger Universities. Others who would attend this military camp were 250 officers, who were not commissioned from the four standing units of blacks in the army. These were 9th as well as the 10th cavalry called “buffalo soldiers” and 24th and 25th infantry. Black soldiers were labeled “buffalo soldiers” during the 1866’s civil war. Lt.Colonel Charles Ballou was the first black to be given the position of a commander even though he was believed to be having connections with the whites. Many believed the Colonel C. Young should have been awarded the job of a black commander, but he was forced on a compulsory retirement from the army. In 1918 when the war was processing the black soldiers showed a lot of bravely across the land of France while fighting the German. The final battle of the WWI was done in Metz a French city and this is where the German Army had constructed a fortress which was big. At this point, for the very first moment in the U.S army, a black regiment led others in the attack of this major battle. The black regiment fought under commands from African American officers trained at Fort Des Moines. With the aid of the 8th army of France the U.S regiment, which was the 56th, fought into the German Fortress – 800 yards within this fortress. The bugle was blown at that juncture to announce that the war had ended. When the African American soldiers returned home in 1919, after the war, US was a nation marred by violence citing racism. In spite of the happenings, this did not overlap the good actions of the black soldiers besides their great achievements in the WWI. It was a transition moment for the black soldiers after the WWI. The African American soldiers had demonstrated an exemplary performance and thus opened gates for the black soldiers who came after this generation.(Black officers at fort Des Moines in WWI, Morris, 2009) African Americans were given roles like militarized labor force. They were allocated the most physically demanding tasks and the highly repulsive work. As WWI came to its end the African-American pioneer infantry was offered the duty of graves registration. They were supposed to unbury the decayed bodies of American soldiers for the purposes of reburial in the National cemetery. African American soldiers, who played a big role in the WWI, were also targeted by MPs of white descent, lynch mobs and firing squads. When the moment came which had the troops which contributed to the victory against the German Army, all other troops with an aspect of black presentation were represented in ‘Le Pantheon de la Guirre’. Black soldiers from the U.S were the only exception, they had no representation (Janken 1997) African Americans serving in the army during the WWI were given labor roles usually behind the battle fronts, according to Hamer. Some of them were given roles in the front lines however. For example, there were 371 regiments. Most black soldiers served in logistical units where they brought up supplies in France. They also built roads as well as repairing them alongside buildings construction. Notable African American leaders like W.E.B Dubois urged fellow Africans to contribute to the war as much as they could. However, Dubois was for the fact that blacks would get equity in provision of justice, and also assume a rightful place that had been constantly denied to them before, after the war. (Forward together, Hamer, 2007) The conclusion of the findings while answering the question, “What was the role played by African-American soldiers in WWI?” is that even if they showed bravery and hand-work in their duties, the result was a mixed one. They were constantly discriminated against by their fellow countrymen the white soldiers. They were denied high ranks in the army. However, they came out of it as heroes and this marked the after ward change that has been witnessed in the U.S army and the African American community alike. Reference: Hamer, F.P. (2007). Forward Together: South Carolinians in the Great War. The History Press. Janken, K.R. (1997). Rayford W. Logan and the Dilemma of the African American Intellectual. Univ of Massachusetts Press. Morris, R.V. (2009). Black Officers at Fort Des Moines in WW I. Retrieved February 21, 2009 http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/mypath.cfm?ounid=ob_000294 Orr, T. (2005). Critical Perspectives on World War I. The Rosen Publishing Group. Zieger, R.H. (2001). Americas Great War: World War I and the American Experience. Rowman & Littlefield. Read More