The
experience of settling America and the burden of defending
it have been shared by men of many continents. African American
men, too, have been among those who built the nation, forged
its destiny in peace, and defended its interests in war. They
began serving America long before the nation had come into
being and they have fought long and honorably in every major
American conflict.
THE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR (1775-1781)
Crispus
Attucks was one of the first martyrs of American Independence.
Every major battle during the War included African Americans
in its troops. Peter Salem and Salem Poor were
singled cut for gallantry.
THE
WAR OF 1812
Three
African American seamen were aboard the British ship when
the Chesapeake incident signaled the start of the War of 1812.
By Wartime, one of every six members of the Navy was an African
American. William Brown was cited for courage and Service.
THE
BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
(1815)
An
integrated army, including two African American battalions,
defeated British troops.
THE
CIVIL WAR
(l86I-1865)
The
African American soldier fought bravely and won praise in
more than 200 baffles. Twenty won the Medal of Honor. America's
highest military honor.
THE
INDIAN FIGHTERS
African
American units of the Army helped keep the uneasy peace in
the Western Territories Fourteen African Americans won the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
THE
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Four
African American units were sent to Cuba under America's highest
ranking African American officer, Major Charles Young.
Four men earned the Medal of Honor.
WORLD
WAR I
There
were 404,348 African American troops. Henry Johnson
and Needham Young of the 93rd Infantry 360th Regiment
became the first Americans of any race to earn the French
Croix de Guerre.
WORLD
WAR II
Dorie
Miller was America's first hero on December 7, 1941, when
he shot down six Zeros with a machine gun which he had never
fired before. He was awarded the Navy Cross. Before the War
ended, three others won the Navy Cross. More than a million
African Americans entered the armed forces. Seven thousand
served as officers; four commanded Merchant Marine ships:
Colonel Benjamin 0. Davis flew 60 missions.
KOREA
The
policy of complete integration in the U.S. Army was adopted
in January, 1950. The first to integrate was the all-African
American 24th Infantry. Two African American soldiers were
awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
VIETNAM
By
1965. according to Defense Department figures, almost 45%
of the infantrymen serving in Vietnam were African American.
Also 5.1% of the Navy; 8.9% of the Marine Corps, and 8.3%
of the Air Force. Nineteen were awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor.
Fifty-nine
African Americans had been awarded the Congressional Medal
of Honor by 1969. In addition, the Navy Medal of Honor had
been awarded to nine others.
OPERATION
DESERT STORM
General
Colin Powell sat at the apex of all U.S. armed
forces as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the
Persian Gulf War in 4991. He was the first African American
to serve in this post.
By
1992, more than 400,000 African American servicemen and women
were on active duty, making up 30 percent of the Army, 20
percent of the Marines, and 13 percent of the Navy.
