African American Experiences

Staff Sergeant Bill Stevens

Staff Sergeant Bill Stevens was apart of the 93rd Infantry Division. During the last ten months of the war, the 93 rd was in the South Pacific doing missions others didn’t want to do. Sergeant Stevens experience begins in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. His group went to Louisiana on maneuvers, thus the nickname the “Maneuver Division.” “(qtd. In Invisible Soldier pp. 77)

From his experience in the south as well as in the southern like state of Arizona, Stevens comments that, “Black troops were naturally suspected of cowardice, stealing, rape, the whole racial-stereotype lie. White commanders had no respect for black soldiers and it was obvious. Likewise it followed that white soldiers had no respect for their black brothers in arms. In our turn we had uttered contempt for them, officers and enlisted men.” He continues saying, “The situation was not helped by the general knowledge that no commander wanted the 93 rd Infantry Division, which had all black enlisted men and some black officers. I understand and have no doubt that the 93 rd was accepted in the Pacific theater on a direct order from Washington.”(qtd. In Invisible Soldier pp. 77)

In his closing statement, Sergeant Stevens says, “Black and white relationship in the South Pacific during World War II can be best summed up by this fact. As a service unit, if you were hauling supplies for a white unit you better take you own food. You could have been hauling for a couple of days but if you asked for something to eat the reply was, ‘the kitchen-mess hall, in army lingo-just shut down,’ “(qtd. In Invisible Soldier pp. 77)

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Source:

Motley, Mary P. The Invisible Soldier: The Experience of the Black Soldier, in World War II. Wane State University Press. Detroit, MI. © 1975