William faced constant discrimination and challenges in his life and was often told that he would not be able to make much of himself because of his skin color. William did not let this stop him from leading a happy and successful life however and from creating that very same life for his own family as a loving and devoted father.
Read MoreAs a member of the Flying Tigers, William C. Chin bravely fought not only for his country and family in the United States but for his ancestral homeland in China as well. With a legacy in the Chin family of leadership and service to the community, William did not disappoint in keeping the family tradition.
Read MoreSam Robinson was a “true Air Force Chief” who served for 28 years in the U.S. military. He was a friend to many and “had a laugh that when you heard it you knew he was in the building. He was a dedicated worker, no matter the challenge.”
Read MoreAfrican Americans served with distinction in every theater of World War II. By the end of the war, 1.2 million African Americans were serving in uniform. Norman Arnett Ford was one of these brave and resilient men.
Read MoreSergeant George B. Booker, born April 11, 1846, had the great distinction of serving in the 17th Regiment of Colored Infantry during the United States Civil War. Born into slavery, George Booker endured the grim realities of living as an enslaved person in the American South
Read MoreJohn William Bell loved the United States military. It shaped him and gave him opportunities he would not have otherwise had. He embraced the chance he was given and raised a family through hard work and dedication.
Read MoreHerman Berry grew up in a society that was segregated, and he served the country he loved under the banner of segregation. Although Herman saw the way society unjustly treated African Americans, he rose above the discriminations and prejudices attached to his race and him as an African American man. Herman carried on his family’s legacy of an ingrained love and loyalty for the military and his country.
Read MoreAs a cook in the U.S. Guards, Emanuel provided a necessary service to the country during the first World War. Although Emanuel only served in the military for one year, it changed his life.
Read MoreAs an African American man growing up in the first half of the twentieth century, Edmond Forrest Noel faced obstacles that his white peers could never understand.
Read MoreGonzales spent the majority of his service in the Third Army under the command of General George “Blood and Guts” Patton. During his tenure, Gonzales performed his duty as an artilleryman and participated in the Battle of the Bulge during the harsh winter of 1944/1945.
Read MoreWanza L. Brown was born in Oklahoma, just like his father and mother before him. Brown had two older brothers, Rogeres and Sidney, and one older sister named Joyce.
Read MoreThe actions of Bert and the 442nd proved to the United States that Roosevelt, the man who interned thousands of Japanese Americans, was right. That being American is not a matter of race or creed, but of heart.
Read MoreAfter serving in the military during World War II, Roger Cisneros became a legal pioneer in Colorado.
Read MoreIn the wake of World War II, the status of Chinese Americans had reached a new height. Seemingly gone were the days of the Chinese Exclusion Acts and widespread anti-Chinese discrimination, during which Chinese Americans were viewed by most Americans as threatening outcasts who sought to steal jobs and degrade Western values.
Read MoreAlthough nearly eighty years have passed since World War II (1939-1945) officially began, it is only in recent years that public interest in the service of Chinese American veterans during World War II has started to emerge.
Read MoreUnited States veteran Earl Ervin McClung is remembered as an American Indian whose service during World War II was heroic and brave. As a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division, McClung jumped into battle on D-Day, and landed behind enemy lines amidst gunfire both in the air and on the ground.
Read MoreA U.S. Marine from South Dakota, Brett Lee Lundstrom touched many people throughout his lifetime. He was a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe. He served in both Afghanistan and Iraq but spent the majority of his service fighting for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Read MoreAt age 27, during the First World War, Vilas Aaron registered for the draft. Because Native Americans were not considered citizens of the United States as of 1917, only men who held citizenship actually faced conscription.
Read MoreBurney was assigned to a unit based on race rather than qualifications. The segregated units fostered demoralization amongst black troops, in addition to racism from the white officers
Read MoreNewsum never gave up his dreams of flying. He joined the Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of African American military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
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