[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1515]]


     TRIBUTE TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS ON THE 47TH 
   ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S SIGNING OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 1995
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, July 26, 1995 marks the 47th anniversary of 
President Harry S. Truman's signing of Executive Order 9981, officially 
desegregating the U.S. military. I rise to pay special tribute and to 
extend my profound gratitude not only to President Truman but to the 
African-American men and women who served in World War II and whose 
exemplary service made the President's action all but inevitable, as 
President Clinton reminded us in his courageous stand in defense of 
affirmative action. The military institution that grew out of that 
executive order became the model for the society as a whole. The U.S. 
military is our finest example of equality, opportunity, upward 
mobility, and full inclusion in our social institutions.
  As chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus veterans braintrust and 
a Korean war veteran, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the 
dedication of those men and women who fought for democracy abroad 
against the Nation's common enemy and returned home to battle racism 
and discrimination. During the war, this duality was signified by black 
troops as the double ``V'' campaign.
  Last year following the 50th anniversary commemoration of the 
Normandy invasion, I heard many complaints from African-American 
veterans, including my constituents in New York. In all of the 
pageantry, in all of the television coverage, it seemed they had been 
left out. I took the matter up with President Clinton and Secretary 
Jesse Brown. The result was President Clinton's participation in a 
Presidential tribute where he delivered a moving speech during the 24th 
Annual Congressional Black Caucus legislative weekend. The President's 
appearance was coordinated by the CBC veterans braintrust, as part of a 
special tribute entitled ``D-Day and World War II African-American 
Veterans: The Forgotten Heroes and Heroines.''
  The tribute honored the 1 million African-American men and women in 
uniform during the war, including the nearly 750,000 who served 
overseas in Europe and the Pacific. The President's decision to attend 
the veterans braintrust event was an honor that cannot be ignored or 
forgotten.
  The President was joined at the event by Secretary Jesse Brown, and 
CBC members: Sanford Bishop, Jr., Bobby Rush,
 Maxine Waters, Corrine Brown, James Clyburn, Kweise Mfume, former 
Congressman Charles Diggs, and was witnessed by a capacity audience in 
the Ways and Means Committee room.

  President Clinton described the African-American World War II 
veterans as ``a distinguished generation in the history of African-
American military service.'' As a group, he said they were protectors 
``of a legacy older than the Declaration of Independence; one that 
includes the legendary service of the Massachusetts 54th in our Civil 
War, the Buffalo Soldiers in the West, the 92d Division in World War 
I.''
  The President continued, ``For decades, African-American veterans 
were missing in our Nation's memories of World War II. For too long, 
you were soldiers in the shadows, forgotten heroes. Today it should be 
clear to all of you, you are forgotten no more.''
  While African-American veterans fought and died under the stigma of 
segregation, one thing is clear: their heroic contributions in WWII 
marked the beginning of the end of segregated America. The bottom line 
is that the brilliance of their performance in the war forced President 
Truman to sign Executive Order 9981, on July 26, 1948, ending the 
practice of segregation in the military. The performance of African-
Americans in World War II sowed the seeds that ultimately forced the 
Federal Government to reexamine its policies on race and stimulated 
African-Americans to greater activism in demanding their rights.
  The Presidential awards ceremony honored outstanding World War II 
African-American veterans associations, units, and individuals who 
served with distinction, as well as historical organizations who 
continue to educate the public on the role and contribution of African-
Americans in World War II.
  Sixty awards were presented to the following honorees: Montford Point 
Marines Association, Prometheans, 715th Veterans Association, U.S.S. 
Mason (DE 529) Association, 366th Veterans Association, Black Women 
Army Auxiliary Corp./Women Army Corp. & Women in the Services, 372nd 
Infantry Association, 758th/64th Armored Regiment Association, 92nd 
Infantry Division Association, 761st Tank Battalion & Allied Veterans 
Association, 366th Veterans Association, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., World 
War II Black Veterans of the Great Lakes, U.S. Coast Guard National 
Association of Former Stewards & Stewardmates, Inc., 555th Parachute 
Infantry Association, 369th Veterans Association, the Golden Thirteen, 
the 5th Platoons and the Red Ball Express, Dr. Paul Parks, Sr., Waverly 
Woodson Jr., SSgt. Monroe Blackwell, Willie Woods, Claude Owens, Rev. 
Elmer Fowler, Charity Adams-Earley, Dr. Martha Putney, Lt. Col. Julius 
Williams, Gladestone Dale, Dr. Leroy Ramsey, Donald Eaton, Jr., Samuel 
Phillips, Alonzo Swann, Captain Hugh Mulzac (Posthumously), Leroy 
Colston, Major Nancy Leftentant-Colon, Clark Simmons, Dr. Robert Allen, 
Robert Routh, Lt. Col. Jesse Johnson, Jacob Johnson III, Dr. Emerson 
Emory, Dr. Charles Pinderhughes, Samuel Mildrew, Captain David 
Williams, Sr., 1st Lt. Prudence Burns Burrell, Lt. Col. Bradley Biggs, 
Major Augustus Hamilton, John Carter, James Dockery, Dr. Howard 
Mitchell, Charles Evers, Dr. Roscoe Brown, Percy Sutton, Daisy Winifred 
Byrd-Beldon, Jean Byrd Stewart, Col. Margaret Bailey, Edna Young 
Shannon, Dr. Olivia Hooker, Dr. Howard Mitchell, SSgt. Robert Powell, 
John Silveria, Dr. John Garrett, World War II Heritage Commission, 
Committee for the Aviation Mural Project Success, and Black Military 
History Institute of America.
  Again, on behalf of a grateful nation, I speak for the Congressional 
Black Caucus in expressing our deep appreciation for the contributions, 
dedication, commitment, and national service of the African-American 
men and women who served in World War II. Their job was done well, and 
will forever be remembered.


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