WHAT I HAVE LEARNED:

In order to attract readers to my blog I need to write everyday – not always an easy task. Today I wrote an article about the first black women to serve in the military, but I am a perfectionist and decided the article was not ready to post. I write at home without an editor. There are editing services online that proof read, very well, but for a fee – this gets expensive. Thus, the article chronicling the experiences of the first black women in the military (Charity Adams Earley, Commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, Suffolk, VA native, Della H. Raney the first black nurse commissioned as a lieutenant, Harriet Ida Pikens and Frances Wills, the first black WAVES sworn in December 22, 1944; and many more) will post later.


I have no shame and if you find a grammar error or typo I welcome comments, feedback, or advice.

But today I will write about what I have learned. The book I am working on is about blacks who served in the military, however, there were numerous individuals of all racial and ethnic groups serving during the war.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED: The world faced a tremendous threat. There were individuals with resources and troops who were capable of inhuman acts – such as marching fellow human beings into gas ovens. I have also learned that there were some courageous people who found ways to hide Jewish families or smuggle them out of the country at tremendous risk to their own lives. I’ve also learned that there were patriotic Americans of Hispanic, Native American, Japanese and European descent who went into harm’s way because they knew this country was under threat.

Yes, mistakes were made – Patriotic American citizens were mistreated – but ultimately the right side won. Now a new generation must deal with dangerous, evil, often hidden enemies. It seems clear to me that lessons of World War II may be of benefit today.
Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED