African American History

Tuskegee Airmen

93rd Infantry

92nd Infantry

During World War II, African American troops were either in the 92 nd or 93 rd infantry divisions. The 92 nd division went to Europe and the 93 rd division went to Pacific. The 93 rd division was a good division but they did tasks that were unpleasing and “thankless” from Americans.

Congress passed the Selective Service Act of 1940, increasing the number of African American troops by over 4,000. This was the first time for some soldiers to enlist in the act. Recruiters had the right to deny prospective recruits based on their own standards. Also no recruit could be drafted unless food, shelter, and sanitary services were provided. This helped the U.S. Army to stay segregated and keep blacks away from the white population.

Mobilization for war helped the African American troops in breaking down the barriers so they could fight for their country. In the early 1940’s numerous blacks were admitted into the military. The U.S. Army had lightened up on their prejudices towards Blacks and was allowing them to go to the front to combat. But some of the U.S. Army didn’t think that they were capable of being in combat, except for in back lines in small segregated units lead by white officers.

The U.S. Army placed African American troops in Arizona. But they were only in groups as big as a brigade except in Fort Huachuca, AZ. There the 93 rd infantry was formed and activated with 16,000 men and with the ability to act independently. The infantry practiced hard for months waiting to be called into the war overseas. They had many mock battles with the other divisions around Arizona and until white officers said that they were “ready.”

The 93 rd division was called into the war on January 24, 1944 because there were no white divisions ready. Their deployment destination was in the Pacific. The U.S. Army split up the infantry for the first time. The first half went to the South Pacific to join other divisions and the remainder went to Hawaii to do even more training. Their campaigns were in the Northern Solomon Islands, New Guiana, and the Bismarck Archipelago. From January 1944 to January 1946, the infantry had been assisted in combats in these islands, attaching the enemy’s perimeter and doing security missions. They later moved on to the Philippines Islands to patrol the area for about a year. On January 7, 1946, the 93rd Infantry Division of U.S. Army came back home.

Source: Stanley Sandler. “World War II in the Pacific”

Garland Publishing. New York, NY. 2001.