The military was segregated then, so I'm wondering if any black combat units were involved in the operation to take the island!. Spike seems to think so!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
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Position:Home>History> Did any black units actually fight in combat on Iwo Jima?Question: Did any black units actually fight in combat on Iwo Jima!? The military was segregated then, so I'm wondering if any black combat units were involved in the operation to take the island!. Spike seems to think so!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Not officially!. Black Marines were armed, and they certainly fired their weapons, but their mission was unloading cargo and moving ammunition forward, and they (like a good Marine should) stayed on task!. They did, however, suffer combat casualties!. At Iwo Jima, the 8th Marine Ammunition Company and the 33d, 34th, and 36th Marine Depot Companies served as part of the shore party of the V Amphibious Corps!. Elements of the ammunition company and the 36th Depot Company landed on D-Day, 19 February 1945, and within three days all the units were ashore, braving Japanese fire as they struggled in the volcanic sand to unload and stockpile ammunition and other supplies, and move the cargo inland!. Eleven black enlisted Marines and one of the white officers were wounded, two of the enlisted men fatally!. http://www!.nps!.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Segregated troops remained official U!.S!. Army policy throughout World War II, because it did not consider racial separation to be discriminatory!. The Army did attempt to dispel racist beliefs among its white officers by issuing Army Service Forces Manual M5, Leadership and the ***** Soldier!. Classified "restricted," this publication tried to avoid condescension and stereotyping, while insisting on identical treatment for all soldiers, regardless of race!. According to Professor Latty (and USMC records), a total of 700 African-American Marines served on Iwo Jima during the battle!. But her opinion piece omits an important point, those black Marines represented less than one percent of the 80,000 who fought to take the island from the Japanese!. And, because of segregation, they were delegated to support roles!. Most of the African-Americans on Iwo Jima were assigned to the 8th Ammunition Company and the 36th Depot Company, which landed on D-Day and handled the vital tasks of moving equipment and cargo ashore!. Though considered support troops, the black Marines who served on Iwo Jima did see combat from time to time!. As Corps historian Colonel Joseph Alexander writes: When Japanese counterattacks penetrated to the beach areas, these Marines dropped their cargo, unslung their carbines, and engaged in well-disciplined fire and maneuver, inflicting more casualties than they sustained!. Two Marines, Privates James W!. Whitlock and James Davis, received the Bronze Star!. Said Colonel Leland S!. Swindler, commanding the VAC Shore Party, the entire body of black Marines "conducted themselves with marked coolness and courage!." While the shore party performed valiantly, their actions were far-removed from the 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines—the unit that raised the flag on Iwo Jima!. So, the answer is both yes and no!. While African American troops were present, as Spike Lee suggests, they were not part of the actual battle, as Eastwood maintains!. Its a shame that Eastwood could not find a more diplomatic way to disagree!.!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Chance* is right; black marines were present throughout the battle, and some had to shoot and otherwise defend themselves given the chaos of combat!. Black marines were not classified as rifleman, and assigned to combat units!. There served in supply and support units, including burial details There were at "scores" of blacks on the island according to black Marine veterans!. http://www!.bvsj!.org/Black%20Soldiers%20a!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com It's certainly true that there were no Black combat units at the time!. But the Black units there (primarily support units!.!.!.supply, etc!.) did come under fire!. I'm sure they did actively fight, but their action was only peripheral!.!.!.not a major part of the attacks to take the island!. Spike's just in his usual "gotta show some Black people, no matter what" mode!.Www@QuestionHome@Com They were assigned to logistical duties such as ammo distribution and burial detal!. However, when they landed they were under heavy fire and did indeed fire their rifles and took casualties!. So, they did not fight as units but individual soldiers were involved in the fighting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Yes, but they had support roles!. See below!.Www@QuestionHome@Com They were not used in combat!. They would been used in a support role!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Ther were no black Marine combat units at that time!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |