From the beginnings of the United States, African-Americans served in the Army and Navy, but were denied the opportunity to serve in the Marine Corps. In the darkest days of World War II, in 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered that African-Americans be allowed to serve in the Marines. But those initial Marine recruits weren’t allowed […]
WASHINGTON — Opening another front in her nearly year-old campaign to support service families, first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday unveiled a new push for…
My father, William Baxter Gaines Sr., and I always had a contentious relationship. He didn’t talk much to his children about his military experience. He did not hug, read bedtime stories, give out compliments or kiss goodnight. This didn’t seem to bother my siblings. I, on the other hand, languished. I took my father’s shunning […]
The U.S. Senate approved legislation this past Wednesday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines, a long overdue recognition to the first Blacks to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina led the effort to get this bill passed. See also: Rep. Charles: Still Mad As […]
Kentucky (PittPostGazette)– Several veterans and historians gathered in Alleghany, Kentucky to honor the 180,000 African Americans who fought in the Civil War. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports: Local African-American veterans and officials from the History Center gathered at the cemetery Sunday to honor more than 100 Civil War-era African-American soldiers who are buried there. Mr. Masich […]
