Is this history you knew?

[lightbulb27]

I did not know there were African American soldier units in WWI France. This fella was decorated.

I really cannot imagine what those men of the day lived through.

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/known-as-black-death-henry-johnson-finally-earns-u-s-recognition-for-valor/

[RavVid]

I did know.

US military police wanted to enforce segregation during WW2 and there were some cases in UK, Australia and I think Canada where it was objected to quite strenuously by local businesses who didn't appreciate MPs telling them not to let black troops enter their establishment.

What is also under recognized is there were a large number of Indians fighting as well. From memory over a million were mobilized though don't know much about what they did. Even Indian people don't remember them.

[lightbulb27]

yes it's really sad to think the sacrafices they made and likely were disrespected socially. One can wonder why his heart failed so early.

[RavVid]

Indeed. I think that is why there was local adverse reaction because black American troops were equally saving our ass as white American troops. Of troops troops landed in Brisbane about 20% were black Americans.

[DryGermanGuy]

Yes. And with France having colonized and subjugated half of Africa, employing them as foot soldiers in every conflict they were in, seemed the obvious thing to do.

[purplepoppy]

You might be interested in googling the Battle of Bamber Bridge. Even most black Americans don't know about it.

[lightbulb27]

I had no idea, great history there. This is kinda standard... black person does not accept the order... don't like being bossed around due to emotional tensions (which was lawful... to wear appropriate uniform), so as a group, they rebel, someone gets killed. they all get punished.
all emotions going back to prior abuses and probably current ones as well. sad to think people forced into such circumstances, but that was the time for everyone including England.

how many mixed race English people are there in UK?

[Dargil]

General George s Patton personally decorated one of them.

[Dargil]

[lightbulb27]

Thank you for noting that and posting, I was not aware. That should be more wide spread and posted. He was going up against a lot of mind crap to recognize that man.

[Dargil]

But you see, part of Patton's power is that he didn't give a shit. It's why he was always in hot water with Eisenhower and Bradley. Patton really did have the personality of a honey badger.

[lightbulb27]

Exactly, have to be like that at times. That is Trumps power.
When you don't care, you can do what you think is right, sometimes it is right. Freedom!

[Dargil]

If Trump has a secret room someplace, and probably has a picture of Patton on his wall.

[Lliam]

Yes, I'm aware of that. But they always had white officers. They were also treated like total shit when they returned home after the war.

[slatyb]

It's not, but I'm not surprised. There were famous Black units who fought in WWII. Truman integrated the US Armed Forces in 1948.

[abc3643]

Yes. I lived in the Albany NY area and US 9 in Albany has a section called Henry Johnson Boulevard in the Arbor Hill neighborhood and there's a Henry Johnson monument at the entrace of Washington Park.

[beefcakebradybatson]

That's because Yankees have long buried African American achievement as an excuse for proclaiming our purported inferiority.

[exitseven]

i did know this. WW1 was a tough go.

[NathanDavis]

Yeah.