Segregation in the American military

[GLASNOST]

In the First and Second World Wars the American military was segregated. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and we were completely integrated. But what about the Korean War and the invasion of Irak? I’ve watched the film; ”Black Hawk Down” and I just now finished watching the Netflix documentary on the same subject: No black Americans to be seen in either of them. What gives? Does anybody know?

 

[Soupnazi630]

In the First and Second World Wars the American military was segregated. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and we were completely integrated. But what about the Korean War and the invasion of Irak? I’ve watched the film; ”Black Hawk Down” and I just now finished watching the Netflix documentary on the same subject: No black Americans to be seen in either of them. What gives? Does anybody know?

You are not a veteran

 

[AZrailwhale]

In the First and Second World Wars the American military was segregated. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and we were completely integrated. But what about the Korean War and the invasion of Irak? I’ve watched the film; ”Black Hawk Down” and I just now finished watching the Netflix documentary on the same subject: No black Americans to be seen in either of them. What gives? Does anybody know?

My guess is that with the insurgents being all blacks, the local forces didn't want to risk "blue on blue" shootings by American troops. However, that is merely a guess.

The photos are there; you just have to hunt for them. The units involved were fully integrated

 

[AZrailwhale]

In the First and Second World Wars the American military was segregated. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and we were completely integrated. But what about the Korean War and the invasion of Irak? I’ve watched the film; ”Black Hawk Down” and I just now finished watching the Netflix documentary on the same subject: No black Americans to be seen in either of them. What gives? Does anybody know?

Harry Truman integrated the US Military in 1948, so it was integrated during the Korean War.

 

[GLASNOST]

My guess is that with the insurgents being all blacks, the local forces didn't want to risk "blue on blue" shootings by American troops. However, that is merely a guess.

Could be. I was thinking about that myself.

View attachment 1158411
The photos are there; you just have to hunt for them. The units involved were fully integrated

I'm not sure if your photo is of black Americans or of the Pakistani Peace Keepers who were also in Somalia at the time.

 

[GLASNOST]

Harry Truman integrated the US Military in 1948, so it was integrated during the Korean War.

I have no doubt that there were black American soldiers in Korea but I am not so sure they were integrated.

 

[whitehall]

The USMC was fully integrated by 1952 but MacArthur was reluctant to use the Marines probably because the Corps had independent leaders who wouldn't go along with his B.S. Lucky for him the Marines bailed out MacArthur after he ordered American Troops into the biggest ambush in history at the Chosin reservoir.

 

[GLASNOST]

The USMC was fully integrated by 1952 but MacArthur was reluctant to use the Marines probably because the Corps had independent leaders who wouldn't go along with his B.S. Lucky for him the Marines bailed out MacArthur after he ordered American Troops into the biggest ambush in history at the Chosin reservoir.

That is interesting but I wonder if we are talking about the same thing. We know there were black outfits in WW II. There were all black tank units, the "Red Ball Express" transport unit, and even (so they say) an all black squadron of pilots. But they were segregated. When I was in Vietnam we were completely integrated. You know what I mean? We were black and white all mixed together.

 

[Deadstick]

In the First and Second World Wars the American military was segregated. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and we were completely integrated. But what about the Korean War and the invasion of Irak? I’ve watched the film; ”Black Hawk Down” and I just now finished watching the Netflix documentary on the same subject: No black Americans to be seen in either of them. What gives? Does anybody know?

Don't know about those wars, but in WW2 it was a disgrace, in a small Town not far from where i live there were riots between some US soldiers and MPs and local people because those US soldiers thought they could import their racist laws to the UK. The battle of Bamber Bridge.

 

[GLASNOST]

Don't know about those wars, but in WW2 it was a disgrace, in a small Town not far from where i live there were riots between some US soldiers and MPs and local people because those US soldiers thought they could import their racist laws to the UK. The battle of Bamber Bridge.

Thank you for the link! The report is rather amateurish so let us hope that a more professional effort will be taken on.

 

[whitehall]

That is interesting but I wonder if we are talking about the same thing. We know there were black outfits in WW II. There were all black tank units, the "Red Ball Express" transport unit, and even (so they say) an all black squadron of pilots. But they were segregated. When I was in Vietnam we were completely integrated. You know what I mean? We were black and white all mixed together.

Truman's EO ordered the Marines to integrate and the Corps was fully complied by 1952. Why is that so hard to understand?

 

[GLASNOST]

That is interesting but I wonder if we are talking about the same thing. We know there were black outfits in WW II. There were all black tank units, the "Red Ball Express" transport unit, and even (so they say) an all black squadron of pilots. But they were segregated. When I was in Vietnam we were completely integrated. You know what I mean? We were black and white all mixed together.

Truman's EO ordered the Marines to integrate and the Corps was fully complied by 1952. Why is that so hard to understand?

What is your problem? Does clarity frighten you?

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

You are not a veteran

He didn't say he was an American veteran.

 

[Soupnazi630]

He didn't say he was an American veteran.

he has in other threads

 

[pinqy]

In the First and Second World Wars the American military was segregated. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and we were completely integrated. But what about the Korean War and the invasion of Irak? I’ve watched the film; ”Black Hawk Down” and I just now finished watching the Netflix documentary on the same subject: No black Americans to be seen in either of them. What gives? Does anybody know?

To be clear, you’re saying that in Black Hawk Down, and in a documentary about the Battle of Mogadishu, you didn’t see any Black guys. Not really a surprise, since the people involved in the initial operation, Task Force Ranger, were all Special Operations: mostly Delta and Rangers.

While African Americans are over-represented in the Army as a whole (19%), they are extremely under-represented in special operations units; Special Forces, Ranger Battalion, and Detachment Delta.

So while the Army is (and was in 2993 as well) fully integrated, it hasn’t been homogenous: fewer African Americans volunteer for spec ops units.

 

[GLASNOST]

To be clear,

Please.

you’re saying that in Black Hawk Down, and in a documentary about the Battle of Mogadishu, you didn’t see any Black guys.

Correct.

Not really a surprise, since the people involved in the initial operation, Task Force Ranger, were all Special Operations: mostly Delta and Rangers.

I don't understand what you are telling me. Is it "no surprise that I didn't see any Black guys" in the film, "Black Hawk Down and the documentary film about it" because the initial operation, Task Force Ranger were all Special Operations: mostly Delta and Rangers"? What is the connection that makes it "no surprise"? It seems you are hinting that the Army is not racially integrated. Is that what you are saying?

While African Americans are over-represented in the Army as a whole (19%), they are extremely under-represented in special operations units; Special Forces, Ranger Battalion, and Detachment Delta.

Now, I am beginning to understand you.

So while the Army is (and was in 2993 as well) fully integrated, it hasn’t been homogenous:

I am pretty sure you don't refer to the year 2993.

fewer African Americans volunteer for spec ops units.

I wonder. I can believe that fewer blacks than whites volunteer for anything but ..... not even one?

 

[AZrailwhale]

To be clear, you’re saying that in Black Hawk Down, and in a documentary about the Battle of Mogadishu, you didn’t see any Black guys. Not really a surprise, since the people involved in the initial operation, Task Force Ranger, were all Special Operations: mostly Delta and Rangers.

While African Americans are over-represented in the Army as a whole (19%), they are extremely under-represented in special operations units; Special Forces, Ranger Battalion, and Detachment Delta.

So while the Army is (and was in 2993 as well) fully integrated, it hasn’t been homogenous: fewer African Americans volunteer for spec ops units.

Possibly because the standards are much higher in Special operations units. I believe every applicant has to have at least a secret security clearance and given the amount of crime in the black population, I believe most blacks can't pass a security clearance. A simple misdemeanor can scuttle a security clearance. In my day (Vietnam) marijuana use would scuttle a security clearance application, any criminal acts at all would scuttle a security clearance investigation.

 

[AZrailwhale]

Please.

Correct.

I don't understand what you are telling me. Is it "no surprise that I didn't see any Black guys" in the film, "Black Hawk Down and the documentary film about it" because the initial operation, Task Force Ranger were all Special Operations: mostly Delta and Rangers"? What is the connection that makes it "no surprise"? It seems you are hinting that the Army is not racially integrated. Is that what you are saying?

Now, I am beginning to understand you.

I am pretty sure you don't refer to the year 2993.

I wonder. I can believe that fewer blacks than whites volunteer for anything but ..... not even one?

If you look at the photos I posted, you will see that there were a few black soldiers in the unit.

 

[GLASNOST]

If you look at the photos I posted, you will see that there were a few black soldiers in the unit.

If you look at the photo I quoted you can see those two are almost certainly Pakistanis, not African Americans.

 

[AZrailwhale]

If you look at the photo I quoted you can see those two are almost certainly Pakistanis, not African Americans.

What would pakis be doing in an American army unit in Somalia?