The Black Panther Tank Battalion Essay

attached. On 10 September 1951, they had fired their 150,000th round of the war. 96th Battalion

African-American soldiers and civilians fought a two-front battle during World War II. There was the enemy overseas, and also

They said that though blacks should not be enslaved, they should not be equal to the white male. The army was extremely reluctant to commission black officers -- only one hundred gained commissions during the war. For example, Colonel Shaw was white. African American soldiers were also given less supplies and rations. In addition, they received inferior ammunition and weapons and absolutely no medical treatment on or off the battlefield. For example, the soldiers were not given shoes when they asked for them, until Colonel Shaw demanded them for his men. This greatly affected their ability to fight. With less to keep them warm or defend themselves, you are going to have more casualties. Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain an army, digging trenches, hauling supplies, cooking food, tending to the wounded, and providing personal service.

Many people know of the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, they were the first African American Fighting group that flew combat missions for the United States military in World War II. Throughout their time overseas they were breaking down racial barriers by proving that colored men can fly a plane just as well as their white aviation counterparts. In order to get their chance to prove that they were able to serve their country, many things had to go right before they were allowed to take their wheels off the ground. They faced constant discrimination but because of that discrimination they were able to conquer the stereotypes and rise to become some of the most decorated

As freed black men escaped their captivity as being enslaved in the South, racial equality in society was not reciprocated by white Americans. Even though African Americans were away from the constraints of slavery, they held a lower social status and were racially inferior by their community. Racial hierarchies were not only imposed in society but also in the military during the Civil War. As the Civil War broke out between the Union and the Confederate, President Lincoln believed that an all-white army had the capability of fighting off the Confederate units and that this war would be swift. The war progressed and the Union soon realized that they needed more reinforcements which would come from the freed black men in the North. During the Civil War, black soldiers would challenge and reinforce the existing racial hierarchies because the dispute of manhood amongst races would be enforce by violence that deterred black men from challenging their social status.

The Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, commanded by Robert Gould Shaw, was one of the most famous regiments of black soldiers. Among its members were two of Frederick

The 369th Infantry Regiment otherwise known as the Harlem Hellfighters was the first all-black US combat unit that was shipped during WW I and was crucial in the WWII battles in Hawaii and Okinawa. These members who were skilled and very proud were shipped to Hawaii and protected the Hawaiian islands with antiaircraft from Japanese attack. William De Fossett was one of the main leaders of the 369th regiment, who joined it due to the regiments fame from the waning days of World War I. The original Harlem Hellfighters fought with the French Army and were awarded for their excellent service. De Fossett made the highly selective and demanding requirements of the 369th regiment. He grew up in the highly cultured

On top of trying to establish an area where they could sit down and not have to worry about direct fire, 1st platoon was also tasked with conducting patrols and manning TCP's which they did not have the men to

At dawn, the Marine 1st Battalion, 5th Marines—commanded by Major Julius Turrill—was to attack Hill 142, but only two companies were in position. The Marines advanced in waves with bayonets fixed across an open wheat field that was swept with German machine gun and artillery fire, and many Marines were cut down.[9][10] Captain Crowther commanding the 67th Company was killed almost immediately. Captain Hamilton and the 49th Company fought from wood to wood, fighting the entrenched Germans and overrunning their objective by 6 yards (5.5 m). At this point, Hamilton had lost all five junior officers, while the 67th had only one commissioned officer alive. Hamilton reorganized the two companies, establishing strong points and a defensive line.[11]

During American involvement in the war, African Americans were listed and reenlisted on the military draft at higher rates than any other nationalities including whites and Latin-Americans (Westheider 9). As a result, more African Americans than any othe r minority fought and died in combat. In addition, they constantly faced racism. One militant protested forcefully against the unfair conditions: “You should see for yourself how the black man is being treated over here and the ay we are dying. When it comes to rank, we are left out. When it comes to special privileges, we are left out. When it comes to patrols, perataions and so forth, we are first” (Gallagher). According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., black youths represented an unequal share of early draftees and faced a significantly higher chance of seeing combat. “Rumors abounded that the U.S. government were using the Vietnam War as a form of genocide. Money was being pumped into Vietnam instead of poor black communities in America” (Gallegher).

The troops were divided into two great combat regiments, Regimental Combat Team 1 with 3rd Battalion/ 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion/5th marines, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, 4th and 23rd Seabees and the US Army 2nd Battalion /7th Cavalry. The other regiment, the Regimental Combat Team 7 included the 1st Battalion/ 8th marine, 1st Battalion /8th Marines and the US Army 2nd Battalion/ 2nd Infantry. Assisting in the assault 2000 Iraqi soldiers were incorporated, and with the order to surround the city to avoid bandits escape, the task was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the British 850 regiment, all supported by air raids and heavy artillery strikes over the city.

Prejudice was also very evident towards African Americans in the Union forces in that they were usually assigned to labor duties, such as cleaning camps, building defenses and garrison duty, and in many cases not allowed to fight. Up until 1864, there was even a difference in pay for black soldiers, and they were not allowed to be commissioned officers.

Firstly, it was widely believed that German secret agents were attempting to disrupt the ability of the United States to wage war by fomenting unrest and disloyalty among the black population, particularly in the South. Secondly, a few white politicians attempted to have blacks excluded from military draft legislation. Black leaders reasoned that a section of the population engaged in local and national struggles for equal rights and justice could ill afford to be portrayed either as the willing target of enemy propaganda or as generally unit for war service. The NAACP had played an important part in persuading the War Department to create the officers’ training camp.

When the moment of battle came upon the 54th at Fort Wayne, SC, they fought with

Units from the American side included the 9th Armored Division, several artillery battalions, and many infantrymen. On the 18th of December the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion arrived, and on the 19th the 101st Airborne joined the battle. Additional support arrived in the form of M4 Sherman tanks led by Lieutenant Charles P. Boggess as he fought his way from the south.