INVISIBLE WARRIORS – BLACK SERVICE MEMBER OF WORLD WAR II

What did military service during World War II mean for "Invisible Warriors"? To be invisible meant they were unseen, unnoticed, imperceptible and believed to be ineffective. The narrator of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man explains that he is not invisible because of a scientific experiment but rather because of others unwillingness to notice him, as he is black.
This was the plight of black service members during World War II. And like the narrator in Ellison's book, invisible warriors needed to make others recognize them.

Invisible warriors rarely appear in official images from that war, but they were there. Almost 900 black Montford Point Marines took part in the battle of Iwo Jima, including former marine and retired Navy Captain, Thomas McPhatter. The North Carolina native who landed on Iwo Jima with the Eighth Ammunition Company complained loudly in 2005 when director Clint Eastwood released Flags of Our Fathers, a movie chronicling the invasion. No black marines appeared in the movie, much to McPhatter's distress.
McPhatter says he provided a piece of pipe used for the first flag up on Iwo Jima. This detail did not make it into the film. "Of all the movies that have been made of Iwo Jima, you never see a black face," says McPhatter. “I feel like I have been denied. I have been insulted. I have been mistreated. But what can you do? We still have a strong underlying force in my country of rabid racism."*

McPhatter was one of the first blacks accepted into the Marine Corps and trained at Montford Point, a segregated camp in North Carolina. Now a retired Naval Reserve Captain living in a San Diego nursing home, McPhatter says he complained to Eastwood's staff about the movie and black actors were added to opening shots of the landing.

The institutional racism of the military in the forties meant there were not many black service members of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, only 1.2 million were black. Yet they proved their loyalty to their country by serving during a time of need, thus making it possible for future generations to serve their country, too. The black service member's story is no different from the story of the white service member. Some were heroic, and others not so heroic. Some were qualified to do their jobs while others were not, just like any other ethnic or racial group who joined the military. There was one major exception, which made the black experience unique – black service members such as McPhatter, and so many of his peers had limited opportunities. Nevertheless, they discredited the prevailing stereotype of "unfit to fight." Case-in-point, Missouri native, Stewart B. Fulbright, Jr., who became one of the first black men trained as a military pilot helped debunk the stereotype of "unfit to fight."

Today’s black service members stand on the shoulders of invisible warriors, including those of the truck drivers of the Red Ball Express, the convoy system used to supply forces moving through Europe following the D-Day invasion of beaches in Normandy. The shoulders that hold up today’s generation also belong to the first all-black crew of a U.S. Navy ship, and the men of the 761st Tank Battalion who helped liberate at least one concentration camp and the Buffalo Soldiers of the 92nd Infantry Division.
These invisible warriors came home, demanded equality, invigorated the civil rights movement, and forced open doors for future generations.
Copyright © 2008 by Sharon Dense Powell All rights reserved

*Absent from history: the black soldiers at Iwo Jima guardian.co.uk, October 20 2006 by Dan Glaister in Los Angeles

FAMOUS FLAG BARERER PASSES

Another invisible warrior has joined the ranks of service members who are now only known to history. Army World War II veteran and Birmingham civil rights leader, long-time barber James Armstrong dies by Erin Stock -- The Birmingham News November 18, 2009, 12:40PM http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/11/birmingham_civil_rights_leader.html Remembering civil rights leader James Armstronghttp://www.southernstudies.org/2009/11/remembering-civil-rights-leader-james-armstrong.html
Armstrong is one of the 1.2 millions black service members who proved their loyalty to their country by serving during a time of need, thus proving their loyalty to their county. More importantly invisible warriors such as Armstrong came home, demanded equality, invigorated the civil rights movement, and forced open doors for my generation – In 1965 he carried the American flag across Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Alabama as state troopers beat back marchers in what became known as Bloody Sunday. He earned the right to carry the flag by answering the call when he received his draft notice in 1944.
Soldiers were fighting the world's worst racist, Adolph Hitler, in the world's most segregated army," says historian and National Geographic explorer in residence Stephen Ambrose. "The irony did not go unnoticed says historian and National Geographic explorer in residence Stephen Ambrose. Black Soldiers in WW II: Fighting Enemies at Home and Abroad Lisa Krause
National Geographic News (February 15, 2001) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0215_tuskegee.html
Stephen Ambrose wrote about the irony of black soldiers in the world's most segregated army fighting the world's worst racist, Hitler. Why would black Americans want to risk their lives in a war that many perceived as "the White man's business?" Ambrose told Krause that “World War II gave the Civil Rights Movement its spark.”
Civil Rights Icon James Armstrong Dies By Debbie Elliott http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/11/civil_rights_icon_james_armstr.html
Selma-to-Montgomery March http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/civilrights/al4.htm
I have heard much about the march to Selma – I was just a child. I have seen film clips of the march but I did not understand the significance of Armstrong carrying the American flag – he earned the right to carry that flag by serving in the army in Europe during World War II. I’ve decided to find out as much as I can about this invisible warrior – more to come.
Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BLACK WORLD WAR II VETS HAVE STORIES TO TELL

In a November 15 article Andre Salles, a news reporter with The Beacon-News in Aurora, Illinois notes that every World War II veteran has a story worth telling. Salles writes about Aurora resident, William "Paul" Vaughn who Salles says has a perspective on the war shared by very few – being black in a segregated Army fighting for freedoms he did not have. William "Paul" Vaughn has a perspective on the war shared by very fewUnited we stood; segregated he served :: Beacon News :: Local News

Another veteran's story worth telling is the story of Tuskegee Airman Quentin Smith, written by John WolfeQuentin Smith fought World War II on two fronts :: Opinion :: Post-Tribune Tuskegee Airmen were black pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Smith's perspective on the war is similar to Vaugh's perspective -- these men were struggling to break the color barrier.

Nearly 909,000 black men and women served in the Army during World War II, according to writer Eric L. Wesson. Among them was James H. Jones, 96, who was drafted in 1941 and served in the 761st Tank Battlion, 3rd Army under General George Patton. Black Soldiers Played Key Roles In America’s Battles http://www.kccall.com/article.cfm?articleid=3998

Historians have observed that Patton did not believe blacks were qualified to fight but he desperately needed every available man to defeat Germany – the 761st joined the fight along with the all-black 92nd Infantry Division. One of the men from the 92nd was a 29-year-old soldier from Cincinnati, Ohio named John R. Fox; he was killed in action on the day after Christmas in 1944. Fifty-three years later, Fox was awarded the highest honor a combat soldier can earn - the Medal of Honor.Black vets 'have story to tell'

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There are many more stories that need to be told. Writers are finding black World War II veterans who are eager to share their stories. It is a race against time -- They are stooped with age, walk with canes, walkers or are wheelchair bound -- Soon their voices will be silent, but their stories will keep them alive for future generations.
Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS AND VETERANS DESERVE HELP TOO

This year disabled veterans and military retirees will not get their annual cost-of-living adjustment. I understand the rationale behind this decision. The cost-of-living index or COLA is equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. If there is no increase, there is no COLA http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/latestCOLA.html. Apparently there was no increase this year -- oh well.

Never the less, I imagine most retirees and disabled veterans like me were looking forward to the annual increase regardless of how small that increase might have been. The bailout money Wall Street Bankers such as Goldman Sachs received suggests that they are much more important than the men and women who risk their lives for our country.

There are 20,000 homeless veterans right now additionally there are active duty members who are forced to make multiple tours to Iraq and Iran, while their families struggle to make ends meet. I am not homeless, nor so destitute that a lack of cost-of-living increase will break me, but there are millions of veterans and active duty military members who are struggling and need help just as much or even more help than Wall Street Bankers.

Writer Dylan Ratigan offers a novel solution for present and former warriors -- Dylan Ratigan: Veterans: Lip Service, Bankers: Billions & America: Foreclosures - Here's The Fix
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-rati... I think he presents a strong argument for providing homeownership to Iraqi vets – there is already assistance from the Veterans Administration for home buyers but Ratigan's idea is very different from simply guaranteeing a percentage of the mortgage. Time will tell if our elected officials consider his suggestion. In the meantime, next January I will quietly deal with not getting a COLA increase just like all the other disabled veterans and retired military members.
Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, Armistice Day: The Differences | The News is NowPublic.com

Last week an Army doctor who had taken an oath to "do no harm" opened fire on his fellow soldiers -- the most egregious act one soldier, shipmate, airman or marine could commit. Those of us who believe we are rational people are trying to understand how a soldier can pick up a gun and fire it with the intent to kill his fellow comrades – those same comrades who in combat would have risked their lives for him. There is no rational explanation for what happened. All we can do is learn from this – find ways to make sure this never happens again.

In hindsight there were probably clear indications to suggest this man was not suitable for the Army and was possibly a threat to himself and others. There will be investigations, there will even be finger pointing. Ultimately, we have to understand that sometimes we cannot predict human behavior. We don’t expect an individual who has taken the Hippocratic Oath and sworn to respect for all human life to commit such a heinous act. Now we must focus on the families and offer them our support.

Those of us who practice a religion should to pray to the God of our understanding whether we call our God Jehovah, Allah or Buddha and ask our God to be with families of our fallen comrades and the families of the wounded warriors and our nation.

Today is Veterans Day, which began as Armistice Day to honor veterans of World War I. In the British Isle today is Remembrance Day in commemoration of sacrifices made during World War I and November 11th 1918 the end of WWI.
Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, Armistice Day: The Differences | The News is NowPublic.com

Whether the day is called Veterans Day, Armistice Day of Remembrance Day, it is a wonderful opportunity to pause and thank the men and women who have serve our nation so gallantly. It is an opportunity to thank them for going into harm’s way to protect our nation. This is particularly poignant for today’s service members who are a part of an all volunteer force – the men and women of today’s military have all volunteered they were not drafted – they chose to wear the uniform. Regardless of our view about war these men and women deserve to be honored for their service and sacrifices.

WRITER HAS WRONG VIEW OF VETERAN'S DAY -- News Tribune - Sound Off - Open Forum (Nov. 5): Veterans Day should not be celebrated

In an opinion posted at NewsTrib.com November 5, the writer Michael Hall writes that he loathes Veterans Day. “I don’t glorify but rather vilify this perversion of a day that should be mourned for its stupidity not reveled for its insanity,” he writes. OPEN FORUM (NOV 5) VETERANS DAY SHOULD NOT BE CELEBRATED
.News Tribune - Sound Off - Open Forum (Nov. 5): Veterans Day should not be celebrated

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It is unfortunate that Hall feels this way and I don’t agree with him. I believe it is good that American citizens feel compelled to come to the aid of their country. There have been times in the past when there was no real justification for war, but that is a decision the military leaves to the politicians we elect. A warrior’s responsibility is to protect and defend. Case-in-point would be World War II -- When allied forces entered concentration camps soldiers were overwhelmed by the mass of humanity – the men, women and children who were barely alive – at the same time these soldiers were repulsed by the stench from rotting bodies. Hall writes that he deplores war -- Most civilized people deplore war. However, there are times when war is justified -- consider the six million fellow human beings who were killed simply for the religion they practiced, their sexual preference or because they were gypsies – they needed our help. We dropped the ball because we knew about the atrocities early in the war and we did nothing – should we have also dropped the ball by not entering the war? I think not.

Yes, war is horrific – and we hope the day will come when there are no more wars. But the reality is that there are some in the world who wish to inflict their will on others, exploit fellow humans and feel no remorse when they murder – often they are world leaders with the power to threaten humanity. Until human beings learn how to raise children who grow up to respect humanity and do not exploit others or inflict their power and will on innocent citizens there will be a need to defend and protect our nation and other law-abiding nations.

Regardless of our feelings about war we still need to honor the brave men and women who have served our nations, particularly the men and women who gave their lives for this country. The service members who landed on Normandy on June 6, 1944 and pushed their way into France and Europe were there for a noble cause – eventually they defeated Germany and helped to liberate those concentration camps and end the carnage and thus deserve to be honored.
Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO TELL THE INVISIBLE WARRIOR'S STORY?

Someone who is helping me develop a magazine article reminded me that I needed to demonstrate to editors why now is the time to write an article about black World War II service members. Today I read an article about Montford Point Marines.Local event remembers the first modern black Marines | Charlottesville Daily Progress
In the article author, Melton A. McLaren is quoted as saying, “Gradually, that idea that African-Americans were not involved in the Second World War is starting to break down.” I believe this means now is the time to tell the invisible warrior's story.

INVISIBLE WARRIOR:

What did military service during World War II mean for "Invisible Warriors", black service members? To be invisible meant they were unseen, unnoticed, imperceptible and believed to be ineffective. The narrator in author Ralph Ellison's 1952 book, Invisible Man explains that he is invisible not because of some scientific experiment but rather because of unwillingness of other people to notice him, as he is black.

This was the plight of black service men and women during World War II. And like the narrator in Ellison's book, invisible warriors had an aching need to make others recognize them. And just as Ellison's narrator often found that such attempts rarely succeeded so too was the case with black service members.

Invisible warriors rarely appear in official images from that war, but they were there – 1.2 million strong. For example, almost 900 invisible warriors, known as Montford Point Marines, took part in the battle of Iwo Jima, including my fellow North Carolinian former marine and Navy Captain, Thomas McPhatter, who I interviewed for this book. McPhatter who landed on Iwo Jima with the Eighth Ammunition Company complained loudly in 2005 when director Clint Eastwood released Flags of Our Fathers, a movie chronicling the invasion. No black marines appeared in the movie, much to McPhatter's distress. You might think McPhatter overreacted considering that 900 black Marines equaled only about ten percent of the forces. But McPhatter believed there was a consorted effort to keep blacks out of the official military footage. McPhatter remembered news photographers rushing past black marines to photograph white marines. Even today, some white Marines who landed on Iwo Jima still insist there were no black Marines involved in the invasion. Case in point: I have a white acquaintance whose father, a Marine landed on Iwo Jima. When she spoke to her father about my book, her father insisted that the only blacks involved in the invasion were either the Army or Navy. Listening to my friend repeat what her father said helped me understand McPhatter's outrage. I admit that until I began my research for my book I did not have a real appreciation of the heroics of black World War II service men and women.

In a 2006 interview McPhatter told a reporter that he provided a piece of pipe used for the first flag up on Iwo Jima, but this detail did not make it into the film. "Of all the movies that have been made of Iwo Jima, you never see a black face," McPhatter said. "This is the last straw. I feel like I have been denied. I have been insulted. I have been mistreated. But what can you do? We still have a strong underlying force in my country of rabid racism." Absent from history: the black soldiers at Iwo Jima http://www.guardian.co.uk, October 20 2006 by Dan Glaister in Los Angeles.

Perhaps the reason to write magazine articles now profiling invisible warriors is that their stories have to be told before they are all gone. Another reason could be that their is a generation of black youths who are desperately in need of positive stories about the strength and endurance of their ancestors.
Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE

On November 4, 2008 an elderly man stood in line and waited for his turn to walk forward, ninety-two-year-old Samuel Powell stood under an umbrella as a light rain fell; the temperature was barely in the fifties.

Once he was inside a voice asked, “Name please.”

“Samuel Powell,” he replied.

“Do you need help with your ballot?” the voice asked.

“No,” Samuel replied.

He picked up his ballot and walked (without a cane) toward a booth. Once inside the booth he began to scan the names on the ballot – school board member, county commissioner, senator, governor. He saw the choices for president – Barack Hussein Obama or John McCain. Samuel could take pride in knowing that he had made it possible for Barack Obama’s name to be on the ballot – not as a third party candidate – but as a candidate from one of the major parties.

Samuel still remembers the sounds of Japanese fighter planes descending on his cruiser USS Helena. He also remembers the sound of the frantic voice over his ship’s 1MCs (intercom systems) shouting, "General Quarters, general quarters. This is not a drill, this is not a drill, all hands man your battle stations!" It was December 7, 1941 and the 22-year-old African American farm boy from Eastern North Carolina, Steward First Class Samuel Powell was a crewmember on Helena and he and his shipmates had to respond to the “general quarters.” They were in Pearl Harbor Hawaii and they were under attack. On that day Samuel’s past shaped Obama’s destiny and became Barack Obama’s future.

In 1941 America was thrust into a war against Nazism, Imperialism and Fascism but for the 1.2 million black Americans such as Samuel there was a greater battle they had to fight – first for the right to fight as they were not welcomed or wanted – and as Americans against the Axis powers that threatened their country.

African American military members who were invisible (unseen, ignored and unnoticed) warriors worked in kitchens, cooked meals for fellow service members, became stevedores and loaded and unloaded ships, or became truck drivers or grave diggers – a few became fighter pilots, at least one Army unit helped liberate a concentration camp, and many other African Americans demonstrated extraordinary courage against the enemy.

Black service members, including my much older brother Samuel, proved they were Americans first even though they did not enjoy the freedoms they were defending. In 1941 African Americans would not have been able to vote in most southern states – yet the greatest black generation’s service to America paved the way for Barack Obama to become president.

I am a baby boomer and my generation which includes President Barack Obama, stands on the shoulders of Samuel, and the rest of the invisible warriors from World War II. My brother is very humble about his role in making it possible for a black man to become president. I constantly thank him and other World War II veterans I meet for their service. Who Samuel voted for is his business – What is important is that the men and women of his generation who were born before the 1965 voting rights act was passed helped make it possible for an African American to become the leader of the free nation – the archaic ideas and beliefs about race are being swept away thanks to them.
Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BLACK MILITARY WOMEN WHO PAVED THE WAY

In 1977 when I was a young recruit I learned to march, to salute, and to respect the uniform. I also developed a tremendous respect for the women who have worn military uniforms. I believe military women are an elite group, especially black military women. During World War II these young women faced obstacles not just because they were black but because of their gender as well. Yet they proudly met the challenge and set the bar high for those who followed.

The former Women’s Army Corps (WAC) Major Charity Adams Earley (1918-2002), commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in World War II, summarized the history of women in the military when she wrote in 1989, "The future of women in the military seems assured. . . ." What may be lost in time is the story of how it happened. The barriers of sex and race were, and sometimes and still are, difficult to overcome, the second even more than the first,” Earley wrote.

Historical Perspective:

In 1901 and 1908 , the Army and Navy Nurse Corps opened the door for women in the military. When the United States entered World War I, the government realized women could be valuable in uniform. And the Navy led the way by recruiting women as yeomanettes. Nearly 13,000 women enlisted in the Navy and the Marine Corps. The Coast Guard also enlisted several women who served at the Coast Guard headquarters building in Washington, D. C. With the war's end, the Coast Guard Yeomanettes, and their Navy and Marine Corps counterparts left the service. There next opportunity would not come until the second war erupted.

One North Carolina native who served in Europe under Adams Earley is a Raleigh native and classmate of one of the first black men killed during the war – Randolph Williamson, Jr who was killed onboard USS Arizona on December 7, 1941.

In 1942 Millie Dunn Veasey , half-heartedly made a pact with two friends to enlist in the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps. An Army recruiter convinced the trio to sign enlistment contracts by telling them their enlistments would free male soldiers for assignment overseas. Veasey’s brother was already serving in the Pacific.

The three friends traveled to Fort Bragg Army base to take the entrance exams. Once at Fort Bragg Veasey says she developed cold feet. However, the army recruiter would not let her back out of her commitment to free male soldiers for overseas duty. Veasey did well enough on her entrance exams to qualify for a clerical position and before she knew it, she was in the army. Her brother, Eugene Dunn was already in the army thus Veasey says she had mixed feelings about joining the WAC. She says her brother served in the Pacific in segregated units and endured much worse treatment than his younger sister endured. She also says she often wondered if she was indirectly responsible for his overseas assignment.

Two weeks ago former Senators Elizabeth and Bob Dole organized a trip to Washington for 100 North Carolina World War II veterans to visit the World War II Memorial. One of the veterans who traveled to DC with the Doles was former WAC, Bertha Dupre. Dupre who is black told a Raleigh news caster that “The experience meant more than I ever thought it could," she said. Dupre is a veteran who is still collecting new experiences. At age 87, she is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte majoring in English and art. Trip to WWII memorial is 'heaven' for N.C. vets, Posted: Oct. 23, 2009.
Trip to WWII memorial is 'heaven' for N.C. vets :: WRAL.com

Copyright © Sharon D. Powell, 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED