Desegration of the Armed Forces

Illustration: White and African-American members of a U.S. Army infrantry
division in Korea in 1950.

 During World War II, U.S. troops fought to defend freedom and human rights. But to many African-Americans in the armed forces, those were noble ideals rather than reality. American society- and the military- were still racially segrated. Almost one million African- Americans fought during World War II, but they served in all-black units, seperated from white troops. And very few blacks served as officers.

When the war ended, civil-rights leaders demanded that blacks receive fair treatment throughout American life, including the military. Congress was reluctant to address the problem, so in 1948, President Harry S. Truman took action. With Executive Order 9981, Truman decreed the end of segration in the armed forces. "It is hereby declared," the President stated,"...that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin."

During the next few years, the U.S. military intergrated it's forces. In the Korean War, which began in 1950, blacks and whites fought side by side on the battlefield, and African-American officers commanded white troops. Sucessful intergration of the military helped pave the way for other civil-rights reforms.

DID YOU KNOW....Truman also assured African-Americans a fair chance at civil-service jobs in the federal government by ordering that those jobs be filled only on the basis of "merit and fitness."

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