[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15709-15713]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     60TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTEGRATION OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 18, 2007, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for Members to 
have 5 legislative business days to submit their statements for the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, this evening I rise, along with my 
distinguished colleagues, for the next hour, which shall be ours, to 
salute and to mark the 60th anniversary of the integration of the 
United States Armed Forces.
  I rise today to celebrate this historic occasion as a step toward 
greater social justice for minorities and women alike, which shaped the 
road to equality within the United States and strengthened the very 
foundation and moral character of our great Nation.
  On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed executive order 9981, 
requiring the integration of the Armed Forces regardless of one's race, 
religion, or national origin.
  President's Truman's brazen action back there in 1948 set the stage 
for later victories, including the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown vs. 
Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act.
  We are aware, Mr. Speaker, as our history attests, that the shared 
sacrifice of African Americans in the defense of our great Nation did 
not begin in 1948. Individuals such as William Williams, a Maryland 
fugitive slave, overcame the odds by enlisting as a private in the 
United States Army and defending Fort McHenry of Baltimore, Maryland in 
1812. Countless others also served prior to the issuance of executive 
order 9981, including the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry 
Regiments, members of the Navy and Marine Corps' Stewards Branch, and 
the highly distinguished and honored Tuskegee Airmen. These brave 
servicemembers paved the way for minority men and women who proudly 
wear the uniform today. Sadly, back then, Mr. Speaker, they were often 
unseen, unnoticed, unappreciated, unapplauded and unsung, but today we 
pause to celebrate their lives and their contributions to our great 
Nation.
  It is because of their sacrifices that I, along with the 42 other 
members of the Congressional Black Caucus, serve in the Congress of the 
United States today. It is through their sacrifices that I serve on the 
Board of Visitors at the Naval Academy, as a member of the House Armed 
Services Committee, and Chair of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee. As 
such, minorities have played a pivotal role in shaping this Nation's 
armed services, and I'm proud to say that this role continues today.
  With the benefit of historical hindsight, we know that the sacrifice 
of brave Americans on the battlefield had to become a shared experience 
for America to truly move toward becoming ``one Nation, indivisible.'' 
Therefore, a segregated Armed Force could not be a foundation for an 
integrated society, nor could it truly offer ``justice for all.''
  However, just as President George Washington initially refused to 
recruit African Americans in the American Revolutionary War despite the 
British welcoming the enlistment of minorities in 1775, President 
Truman's executive order was also met with much opposition by the 
Marine Corps and the Army. Consequently, this significant change and 
transition in racial policy took nearly 15 years before the executive 
order was fully implemented by all of the Armed Forces.
  Because of President Truman's unyielding vigilance in ensuring the 
complete integration of the Armed Forces, all Americans today are more 
secure and remain free.
  As we remember and honor the brave men and women of every race who 
have served our Nation, we should also remember those visionary leaders 
who

[[Page 15710]]

gave to our Nation, including our colleagues, Representative Charles 
Rangel of New York, John Conyers of Michigan, Representative Bobby Rush 
of Illinois, Edolphus Towns of New York, Bobby Scott of Virginia, and 
so many others, the opportunity to share in that sacrifice which has 
preserved the America we all love so much.
  We know that the transformation of our military has not been easily 
accomplished, and we honor those soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen 
and women, and marines who, over the years, have challenged the status 
quo to do what is simply right.
  All too often in our past, minorities in our Armed Forces have been 
forced to endure injustice and discrimination. All too often, 
promotions, choice assignments, and desired occupational fields have 
not been open to all on the basis of merit alone. Yet, the patriotism 
of our countrymen and women has kept the transformation and vision by 
President Truman alive.
  Today, minorities continue to serve with distinction throughout our 
Armed Forces. Of the more than 1.8 million servicemembers who have 
participated in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, more 
than 20 percent have been minorities.
  Mr. Speaker, it was just today that we congratulated Ensign DeCarol 
Davis for her selection as being the first African American and the 
first African American woman to serve as valedictorian of a graduating 
class of the Coast Guard Academy. However, despite these advancements, 
minorities and women continue to be overlooked in being promoted fairly 
to Flag Officer rank or other leadership positions within the armed 
services. In fact, minorities remain over-represented in the enlisted 
ranks of our armed services, but clearly under-represented in the 
officer ranks.
  African Americans constitute less than 6 percent of the general 
officers serving on active duty, amounting to merely 53 officers. And 
today, 60 years after executive order 9981, the Department of Defense 
still lacks a comprehensive plan and definition of diversity that can 
be applied Defense-wide.
  Moreover, while the number of minorities and women admitted into the 
service academy has increased, reaching 24.1 percent of minorities for 
the graduating class of 2007 to 2011 at West Point and 22.7 percent of 
the United States Naval Academy, reports of the hate-inspired display 
of nooses at the United States Coast Guard Academy certainly 
demonstrate how much further we have to go as a Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, we can do better. Not only can we do better, but we must 
do better. There is no excuse today for having one Four Star minority 
general officer, just as there was no excuse 60 years ago for the 
failure of the Army and the Marine Corps to immediately implement 
President Truman's noble orders of integration within the services.
  That is why, together with Representatives Kendrick Meek, Hank 
Johnson and Kathy Castor, I successfully sponsored the ``Senior 
Military Leadership Diversity Commission'' amendment to the 2009 
National Defense Authorization Act.
  And I would be more than remiss if I did not say that our whip, Mr. 
Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, has made this entire cause of promotions 
within the ranks one of his major, major themes and something that he 
has worked on very, very hard, and I want to thank him for all of his 
efforts.
  The commission that I spoke about a minute ago will study diversity 
within the senior leadership of the Armed Forces with the goal of 
enhancing the role of minorities and women. As I previously observed, 
Mr. Speaker, shared sacrifice and service to our Nation must be 
balanced by a fair and equitable sharing of responsibilities, 
opportunities and promotions.

                              {time}  2045

  For this reason, the commission's mission will be to evaluate and 
assess the opportunities for the advancement of minority and female 
members within the military branches as well as the challenge of 
retaining our Nation's best and brightest.
  The Armed Forces continue to be a great career opportunity for the 
young men and women today. As a Nation, we have a compelling need to 
further increase the retention and recruitment of minority officers; 
yet as the co-chair of a task force on minority recruitment in the 
academies, and as a member of the Board of Visitors of the Naval 
Academy, I remain deeply concerned.
  Mr. Speaker, this Nation's long march toward shared opportunity as 
well as shared sacrifice in the defense of America will continue, as it 
must. The security and the honor of America are at stake.
  And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield to my distinguished colleague, 
Ms. Watson of California.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 60th 
anniversary of the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces. The policy 
that opened the door to full integration of the military was executive 
order 9981, signed by President Harry Truman on July 26, 1948. Despite 
the fact that President Truman signed this order, African Americans 
have served in this Nation's military with distinction since the 
Revolutionary War.
  Some of the storied accomplishments of blacks in the military date 
back to the War of 1812. During the Battle of Lake Erie in September of 
1813, which this event is depicted in a painting at the head of the 
east stairway in the Senate wing of the Capitol, nine small ships 
defeated a British squadron of six vessels, and due to the shortage of 
personnel, about 25 percent of the sailors involved were black.
  During the Civil War in September, 1864, the Battle of New Market 
Heights was one of the last major fights before the war came to a 
conclusion. During the conflict, 14 blacks won the Congressional Medal 
of Honor for their bravery in the line of fire. This event marked the 
largest amount of blacks to receive the Medal of Honor for a single 
battle. This accomplishment has almost been left out of the history 
books, but today we recognize their honorable service and contributions 
to freedom.
  During World War II in 1943 and 1944, a group of young determined 
black men who called themselves the Tuskegee Airmen, which my late 
first cousin, First Lieutenant Ira O'Neal, served as one of the 
original pilots, fought in the skies over North Africa and Europe with 
honor and with courage. The Airmen flew over 15,000 sorties and over 
200 bomber escort missions. Some individuals have questioned their 
record of never losing a bomber to enemy fire, but, nevertheless, their 
accomplishments blazed a trail of fire towards integration in the Armed 
Forces.
  Even after the signing of executive order 9981 in 1948, neither the 
Army nor the Navy planned to alter their existing racial policies, and 
it wasn't until October 30, 1954, when the Secretary of Defense finally 
announced that the last racial segregated unit in the Armed Forces of 
the United States had been abolished.
  In April of 1948, there were only 41 black officers in the regular 
Army, and that was up from 8 in June of 1945. By the end of June, 1948, 
there were only 5 warrant officers and 65,000 black enlisted men and 
women.
  During fiscal year 2004, the total strength of the Armed Forces was 
over 2.2 million people. Military demographics showed that African 
American men and women made up over 16,800 commissioned officers, more 
than 3,300 warrant officers and over 313,900 enlisted. At that time 
blacks made up 16.7 percent of the total strength of the Armed Forces.
  We have come a long way as a Nation in 60 years to integrate the U.S. 
military. African Americans in defense of this Nation are now 
commanders of warships, advisers to Presidents, but there is still more 
work to be done in terms of diversity in the senior levels of military 
leadership.
  Currently, less than 5 percent of officers at the rank of one star 
general and above are African American. As this Nation moves forward 
and we realize the future threats we will face, it is imperative that 
we tap into our full potential and give minorities opportunities to 
hold senior leadership roles in our military.
  That is why I would like to thank Representatives Cummings, Meek,

[[Page 15711]]

Johnson, and Castor of the House Armed Services Committee for 
sponsoring the Senior Military Leadership Diversity Commission. The 
commission will study the development of minorities to reach the 
general and flag officer ranks of the Armed Forces.
  For many years blacks have fought on two fronts in their military 
careers. One front was on the battlefield in pursuit of freedom for our 
country, and the second front was on the city streets, where they 
fought against racism and discrimination.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
further diversify the senior ranks of the military, and I look forward 
to the official celebration of the 60th anniversary of the integration 
of the Armed Forces in the Capitol rotunda.
  And I would just like to add that our new superintendent of schools 
in Los Angeles is a former admiral, Admiral Brewer, and we're very 
proud to have him. Not an educator, but a well-proven military leader.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. I want to thank the gentlewoman for her strong 
comments.
  And I also would note, Mr. Speaker, that throughout these 
presentations, I think you will hear a common theme, and that is that 
while minorities are enlisted in the military in the rank and file, 
there is a concerted effort on our part to make sure that they enter 
the ranks of officers. It's not enough to give your blood, your sweat, 
your tears. We want to see more of them in the officer ranks.
  And with that, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland, one of the newest Members of 
Congress. And she didn't hit the ground running, she hit the ground 
flying. From the Fourth Congressional District, Congresswoman Donna 
Edwards.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I rise to lend my voice in 
recognizing the 60th anniversary of the integration of our Nation's 
Armed Forces.
  Having grown up in a military family, my life has been directly 
impacted and enriched by President Truman's executive order. Though 
African Americans' history of service and sacrifice did not begin with 
the integration of the armed services, it's been more validated because 
of it.
  From my great grandfather who volunteered as a Freeman to fight on 
the side of the union in this Nation's Civil War; to my grandfather who 
served in a segregated Navy during World War II; to my father, who was 
among those to join the Air Force in 1949, among the first airmen to 
integrate in the United States Air Force under the executive order; to 
my brother who just out of high school joined to serve during Vietnam, 
I've been a witness to the honor, bravery, and sacrifice associated 
with military service. And regardless of one's race, religion, or 
ethnicity, President Truman and military leaders at the time understood 
the importance of the principle ``I am my brother's keeper.'' This 
principle serves as a foundation on which our armed services are built, 
and without executive order 9981, equality of treatment and opportunity 
for all in our armed services, our country would surely have suffered.
  We must never forget the service of African American soldiers 
throughout our Nation's history. From the 54th Massachusetts Regiment 
that stormed the beaches and battlements of Fort Wagner in South 
Carolina; to the Harlem Hellfighters of the 369th Infantry Regiment, 
who not once saw a man captured or ground taken; to the famed Tuskegee 
Airmen, who were among the first African American fighter pilots and 
the first unit to receive a presidential unit citation for 
``outstanding courage,'' these servicemembers, along with countless 
others, gave their lives to help pave the way for the integration of 
our Armed Forces. And we can't underestimate what that integration 
meant, opening the door to increased educational benefits and 
employment opportunities for all of us and serving really as a 
blueprint for the private sector to integrate as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say that, like my colleagues, I agree 
that the service doesn't end with simply giving your blood and your 
sweat and your tears, but it means having the capacity to rise to the 
level of flag officers, of commanding officers in our United States 
Armed Forces. And until all those doors are open, we will not have 
recognized and realized the opportunity put forth by President Truman 
on the signing of executive order 9981.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. I want to thank the gentlewoman for her statement.
  Mr. Speaker, I will just take a moment to also salute the members of 
the Armed Services Committee from the Congressional Black Caucus, 
Congressman Kendrick Meek, who has worked very hard on these issues; 
and certainly Congressman Hank Johnson out of Georgia; and yours truly.
  So in closing, Mr. Speaker, as all Americans are painfully aware, our 
history as a Nation has been a collage of contradictions, a struggle 
between discrimination and social justice, which has been repeatedly 
overcome by the power of patriotism and love for our Nation.
  Jim Clyburn loves to tell the story, and many of us have heard these 
stories, where African American men and women have served many, many 
years in the military, and then when it came time for them to be 
promoted, they did not make the list. So after they had given much of 
their lives to their country, because they were not selected to move up 
as far as rank was concerned, then they had to leave. And that has 
happened to so many over and over and over again.
  But no matter what, they still kept coming. On the one hand, many of 
them felt that they had not been treated fairly. But on the other hand, 
they still saluted the flag. They put up the flag every day. They did 
everything they knew how to be good patriots. Sometimes while they were 
being wonderful, wonderful patriots, they also found themselves in 
pain. So it was a dual situation for them, standing up for their 
country in some instances where they did not feel that their country 
always stood up for them. And you can hear those stories no matter 
where you go in any African American neighborhood throughout our 
country.
  So going back to President Truman's executive order 9981, requiring 
the integration of the armed services prior to the Supreme Court's 
ruling in Brown versus Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act, and 
the Voting Rights Act is a testament to this shared struggle.
  President Truman's executive order was essential to America's history 
and to his quest to truly offer justice for all. And that's what these 
soldiers were asking for, simply justice for all. They did not want 
anybody to do them any big favors. They simply wanted to have what was 
due them, an opportunity to lead.

                              {time}  2100

  And so, just as we eventually came together as a Nation to ensure the 
full implementation of the Executive Order 9981, I thank my colleagues 
for joining me and coming together as Members of Congress and 
celebrating the 60th anniversary of this momentous occasion.
  And I would be more than remiss if I did not give credit to our staff 
who worked so hard on this special order, Miss Leah Perry, a very 
distinguished lawyer in her own right, and Miss Ca-Asia Shields, a 
young lady who is one of our fellows from the military services. And 
we're very, very pleased with the great work that they did for us.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 60th 
year of an integrated United States military. On July 26, 1948, 
President Harry S Truman signed Executive Order 9981. Since that date, 
people of color have been able to serve honorably in our Armed Forces.
  As I reflect upon that day and the significance that it holds, I 
wonder how it was received in my district. I can imagine the pride and 
optimism that my parents felt as they picked up their copy of the 
Cleveland Plain Dealer on July 27, 1948, and read the headline 
``Segregation Hit in Truman Orders.'' As the civil rights movement was 
beginning to gain momentum, the Democratic Party of the North began to 
break away from their Southern affiliates. As the article indicates, 
President Truman grew tired of waiting for Congress to act on his civil 
rights legislation. So through an executive order, he recognized the 
injustice that had been done to millions of Americans and unilaterally 
opened the door for them to participate in civil service.

[[Page 15712]]

  While the Civil Rights Movement is not over, we have seen and 
continue to see progress in our society's treatment of minorities. Even 
before President Truman used his pen to integrate the Federal 
Government, minorities were loyally serving our Nation. I am still in 
awe when I think of how men of color fought in the Civil War, how they 
participated in our westward expansion, the Great War, World War II, 
and even Korea, all without the respect of being treated as an equal at 
home. The passion shared by minority communities for the principles our 
Nation undoubtedly motivated millions of individuals to fight the good 
fight and work for a better tomorrow.
  As we celebrate 60 years of an integrated military, my colleagues and 
I in the House of Representatives are preparing to celebrate the career 
of LTC Joselyn Lloyd Bell, Jr. Lieutenant Colonel Bell will be retiring 
from the United States Army on July 25th after 20 years of 
distinguished service. An outstanding African-American officer, 
Lieutenant Colonel Bell represents all that minority men and women in 
uniform dreamed of experiencing prior to EO 9981.
  After being commissioned through the Recruit Officer Training Corps 
at the University of Central Arkansas, Second Lieutenant Bell became a 
military intelligence officer. His service at the tactical and 
operational levels provided him with the ability to demonstrate his 
strong leadership and professional skills. Eventually, he would apply 
his expertise and help prepare the Army for the future by commanding 
units which tested several of the platforms currently in use today. 
Lieutenant Colonel Bell's last assignment prior to retirement was with 
the Office of Army Legislative Liaison. Through this role, he was able 
to advocate for a stronger Army and share his experience with my 
colleagues.
  One day following the publication of EO 9981, President Truman 
addressed Congress in a special session. In his speech he addressed a 
slowing economy, housing issues and the ability of Americans to find 
suitable employment. I find it interesting that now, almost 60 years 
later, my colleagues and I are discussing the same issues. Today we 
monitor the price of oil, we work vigorously to address the housing 
foreclosure issue and to keep jobs here in America. While our military 
is integrated we have yet to reach our full potential. The racial 
composition of our enlisted and officer corps does not reflect the 
progress that we have achieved. Out of the 899 flag officers, only 27 
are African-American. The statistics concerning women, Latinos, Asian-
Americans, American Indian and Alaskan Natives are equally 
disappointing. In 2003, several key individuals within the military 
community filed an amicus brief to reiterate that the strength of our 
military rests firmly upon the diversity within it.
  As we thank Lieutenant Colonel Bell for his service and his family 
for their support, we may again turn to the words of President Truman. 
As the President closed his address to Congress on July 27th, 1948, he 
stated, ``The vigor of our democracy is judged by its ability to take 
decisive actions--actions which are necessary to maintain our physical 
and moral strength and to raise our standards of living. In these days 
of continued stress, the test of that vigor becomes more and more 
difficult . . .'' As our global community is challenged by the threat 
of non-state actors, our Armed Forces continue to be involved in two 
major conflicts, and our communities progress towards complete 
integration, I feel that we in the Congress have it within us to honor 
those that have served and those who are serving. We must continue to 
work with our men and women in uniform to provide all Americans with 
the opportunity to succeed.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, HASC Chairman Ike Skelton 
submitted H. Con. Res. 377 last month to authorize the use of the 
Rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony commemorating the 60th 
Anniversary of the beginning of the integration of the United States 
Armed Forces. Specifically, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive 
Order 9981 in 1948, which provided for equality of treatment and 
opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to 
race, color, religion or national origin.
  The resolution commemorating this event was overwhelmingly adopted by 
the House, with the Senate concurring, and tomorrow's ceremony is the 
result. Significant House leadership (bipartisan) is expected to 
attend, among them Speaker Pelosi, Leaders Hoyer/Boehner, Chairman 
Skelton and many Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. All U.S. 
Senators have been invited--Leaders Reid and McConnell have accepted; 
numerous Senators are also expected to be in attendance. Executive 
Branch invites were also extended. I would like to thank Congressman 
Elijah Cummings for leading this special order and for his leadership 
on this issue.
  The integration of the armed forces was a momentous event in our 
military and national history; it represented a milestone in the 
development of the armed forces and the fulfillment of the democratic 
ideal. The existence of integrated rather than segregated armed forces 
is an important factor in our military establishment today. Also we 
must continue to promote the promotion to office for these minority 
soldiers and women soldiers.
  The experiences in World War II and the postwar pressures generated 
by the civil rights movement compelled all the services--Army, Navy, 
Air Force, and Marine Corps--to reexamine their traditional practices 
of segregation. While there were differences in the ways that the 
services moved toward integration, all were subject to the same 
demands, fears, and prejudices and had the same need to use their 
resources in a more rational and economical way. All of them reached 
the same conclusion: traditional attitudes toward minorities must give 
way to democratic concepts of civil rights.
  If the integration of the armed services now seems to have been 
inevitable in a democratic society, it nevertheless faced opposition 
that had to be overcome and problems that had to be solved through the 
combined efforts of political and civil rights leaders and civil and 
military officials. In many ways the military services were at the 
cutting edge in the struggle for racial equality.
  The 60th anniversary of the integration of the U.S. armed forces 
reflects the quarter century that followed America's entry into World 
War II, beginning with reluctant inclusion of a few segregated 
``Negroes'', to African-American service men and women's routine 
acceptance in a racially integrated military establishment.
  In the name of equality of treatment and opportunity, the Department 
of Defense took a long time to adequately challenge racial injustices 
deeply rooted in American society.
  Clearly, it was a practical answer to pressing political problems 
that had plagued several national administrations. In another, it was 
the services expression of those liberalizing tendencies that were 
pervading American society during the era of civil rights activism.
  Sadly, just as Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of affecting the 
establishment with financial boycotts because it was easier to change 
laws than to change hearts; to a considerable extent the policy of 
racial equality was more a response to the need for military efficiency 
than a belief in true equal opportunity.
  Men like Walter F. White of the NAACP and the National Urban League's 
T. Arnold Hill sought to use World War II to expand opportunities for 
the black American. From the start they tried to translate the 
idealistic sentiment for democracy into widespread support for civil 
rights in the United States.
  This became readily apparent during President Truman's years in the 
White House, that winning equality at home was just as important as 
advancing the cause of freedom abroad. As George S. Schuyler, a widely 
quoted African-American columnist put it: ``If nothing more comes out 
of this emergency (World War II) than the widespread understanding 
among White leaders that the Negro's loyalty is conditional, we shall 
not have suffered in vain.''
  The NAACP spelled out the challenge even more clearly in its monthly 
publication, The Crisis, which declared itself ``sorry for brutality, 
blood, and death among the peoples of Europe, just as we were sorry for 
China and Ethiopia. But the hysterical cries of the preachers of 
democracy for Europe leave us cold. We want democracy in Alabama, 
Arkansas, in Mississippi and Michigan, in the District of Columbia--in 
the Senate of the United States.''
  The administration began responding to these pressures before America 
entered World War II. At the urging of the White House the Army 
announced plans for the mobilization of African-Americans, and Congress 
amended several mobilization measures to define and increase the 
military training opportunities for African-Americans.
  The most important of these legislative amendments in terms of 
influence on future race relations were made to the Selective Service 
Act of 1940. The matter of race played only a small part in the debate 
on this highly controversial legislation, but during congressional 
hearings on the bill African-Americans testified on discrimination 
against Negroes in the services. These witnesses concluded that if the 
draft law did not provide specific guarantees against it, 
discrimination would prevail. Luckily, Congress agreed.
  On July 26, 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, 
ordering the racial integration of the Armed Forces, declaring that, 
``there is equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the 
armed services without

[[Page 15713]]

regard to race, color, religion or national origin.'' The policy was to 
be put into effect, ``rapidly as possible, having due regard to the 
time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing 
efficiency or morale.''
  Unfortunately, the all-black 24th Infantry was the only black active 
duty regiment left intact after WorId War II. The 25th Infantry 
Regiment was also still on active duty, but its battalions were split 
and attached to various divisions to replace inactive or unfilled 
organic elements. The all-black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments were 
reactivated in 1950 as separate tank battalions--keeping full 
integration still in the distant future.
  In February 1946 The U.S. Navy published a circular letter making 
black sailors ``eligible for all types of assignments in all ratings in 
all activities and all ships of naval service. Yet it was a full 3 
years later before the first military service group, the Air Force 
integrated under the executive order.
  The true fulfillment of the entire scope of Executive Order 9981--
equality of treatment and opportunity--actually required an additional 
change in Defense Department policy which did not occur until July 26, 
1963, 15 years to the day after Truman signed the original order.
  This major about-face in policy issued by Secretary of Defense Robert 
J. McNamara expanded the military's responsibility to include the 
elimination of off-base discrimination detrimental to the military 
effectiveness of black servicemen.
  As of 2008, the Department of Defense has a total of 1,375,105 
service members serving on active duty in the Armed Forces. Minorities 
serve in senior leadership positions throughout the Armed Forces, as 
commissioned, warrant and non-commissioned officers, evidence that the 
integration of the Armed Forces has enhanced the combat effectiveness 
of the military 60 years ago and still holds true today.
  There have been more than 1,754,900 service members from this 
volunteer force that have fought in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/
Operation Enduring Freedom, of which more than 20 percent are 
minorities, evidence that the United States could not maintain an all-
volunteer force without the service of and critical role played by 
minorities.
  The Armed Forces has been lead in creating opportunities for no 
matter the national origin, religion nor race. Making equal opportunity 
not just a slogan but a way of life. It is a place where regularly 
minorities serve as leaders, companies, battalions, divisions. It also 
serves a great opportunity to grow morally, ethically, and 
professionally.
  The United States Military Academy--West Point, (USMA) currently has 
the highest enrollment percentage (24.1 percent) of minorities for 
graduating classes of 2007-2011. The United States Naval Academy (USNA) 
is at a close 22.7 percent and has seen a steady and consistent 
increase in enrollment of minorities well over 20 percent graduating 
classes of 2007-2011.
  The USNA has the highest enrollment number for females (20 percent), 
with the USAFA close behind--19 percent. USMA has the highest number of 
African American enrollment, however it is important to note that the 
enrollment numbers for West Point are about 90-100 students more than 
the Naval Academy and about the same enrollment numbers for the Air 
Force.
  Current Active Duty Flag Officer statistics throughout the Department 
of Defense:
   4-Star Generals, 1 is an African American (General ``Kip'' 
Ward)
   137 3-Star Generals, 8 are African American
   279 2-Star Generals, 17 are African American
   444 1-Star Generals, 24 are African American
   TOTAL: 899 General Officers, 40 are African American--4.4 
percent of General Officers on Active Duty.
  I am also lucky to serve with several Congressional Black Caucus 
Members that have served in our Armed Forces including:
   Charles Rangel (NY) Served in the Korean War in United 
States Army during the period of 1948-1952; Purple Heart and Bronze 
Star Recipient
   John Conyers Jr. (MI) Served in the United States Army 
during the Korean War
   Bobby Rush (1st IL) Served 5 years in the United States Army
   Edolphus Towns (10th NY) United States Army
   Robert ``Bobby'' Scott (3rd VA) United States Army
  I am proud to stand here today and honor the many African-Americans, 
Hispanics, Asians, Europeans, and all the other ethnic groups that make 
up our armed forces. No matter their race or national origin they have 
but three things in common--their desire to champion the ideals of 
democracy, their willingness to give the ultimate sacrifice for their 
country, and their compelling devotion to duty.

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