Illustrated with photographs and commissioned artwork, this book depicts the various roles that African Americans played from fighter pilots to tank crews to grunts on the ground in every combat theatre from Europe to the Pacific.

INTRODUCTION: Racial segregation in the US forces – the Selective Service Act – President Roosevelt and Executive Order 8802·US ARMY: General Benjamin O.Davis Sr; US Army Air Corps/Force: Colonel Benjamin O.Davis Jr and the ‘Tuskegee Airmen’ – 99th Fighter Squadron – 33nd Fighter Group – 477th Bombardment Group; Armored Force and Tank Destroyers: 761st Tank Battalion – 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion; Cavalry; Field, Coast and Antiaircraft Artillery; Infantry: 92nd Infantry Division – 93rd Infantry Division – 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion – volunteer infantry replacements, 1945 – Executive Order 9981; support and service troops; life overseas·US NAVY: Steward’s Mate Doris Miller; USS Mason – PC 1264 – Naval Construction Battalions; The Port Chicago Disaster, July 17, 1944 – its aftermath·US MARINE CORPS: Letter of Instruction 421; Gunnery sergeant Gilbert H.Johnson; 51st Defense battalion – 53nd Defense Battalion – other units·OTHER MARITIME SERVICES: US Coast Guard – early integration; US Merchant Marine – SS Booker T Washington·BIBLIOGRAPHY·PLATE COMMENTARIES: Uniforms: US Army – US Navy – US Marine Corps

This book is a concise history of the service records and combat experience of the African American troops who rose above discrimination to fight for the Allied cause and paved the way for integrated armed forces.