Gearing up for civil rights in WWII

By Sophia Mattimiro (Numismatic News - www.numismaticnews.net)

On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, thus marking the start of World War II. There was much debate on whether or not the United States should aid the Allied powers, but the U.S. remained neutral for the first two years. Then on Dec. 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service executed a surprise strike on the U.S.’s naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. Their intention was to prevent the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately for them, this had the opposite effect.

On Dec. 8, 1941, the U.S. declared war on Japan, and then three days later on Dec. 11, declared war on Germany and Italy. The U.S. had officially joined the global war. This brought about a massive effort to rally the American citizens to fight overseas and at home. Everyone was expected to do their part, which brought about The Home Front. While the young, able-bodied men were sent overseas, the people left behind quickly filled in the gaps. The American people worked together to keep production running smoothly, creating uniforms, guns, tanks, ships, planes and more. Amid this patriotism rose phrases such as “Make it do, or do without,” “Do with less, so they’ll have more” and “Don’t you know there’s a war on?” All geared towards encouraging citizens to contribute towards the war efforts and make the sacrifices needed to ensure victory. This also saw the creation of Rosie the Riveter, the iconic poster of a female factory worker telling her fellow women, “We Can Do It!”

Despite the rallying cry for everyone to do their part, not everyone was welcome to join the efforts. Black Americans still faced segregation, and the military forces were for whites only. However, there were already a few things in motion that allowed for every man to serve, regardless of the color of their skin.

In December of 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced an experimental civilian pilot training program. By the time the program was made permanent in June of 1939, a provision had been added to the Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) Act that called for the program not to exclude anyone based on race. Six Black colleges took part in the program. In September of 1940, President Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Service and Training Service Act. This was the first peace-time draft in U.S. history. Two provisions (section 3a and section 4a) allowed anyone to volunteer, no matter their race or color. Not long after, the War Department announced that the Civil Aeronautics Authority would begin the development of “colored personnel” for the aviation service in cooperation with the U.S. Army. All these actions allowed for the first Black Americans to join the war efforts in the form of airmen.

With the first aviation class of 13 cadets starting in July 1941, the Tuskegee Airmen were born. Tuskegee University had participated in the CPT program since 1938 and rose to the forefront when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt came for an inspection in 1941. With her influence, a large loan was given to help finance building Moton Field. Moton Field was the only primary flight facility for African American pilot candidates. From 1941-1946, approximately 1,000 Black pilots were trained at Tuskegee.

In March 1945, the 332nd Fighter Group, known as the “Red Tails” at the time, was recognized for its longest bomber escort mission to Berlin where the Tuskegee Airmen destroyed three German ME-262 jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters. These are just a few of the many feats the Airmen accomplished and were awarded for.

These airmen weren’t the only Black Americans paving the way for equality during WWII. In 1942, Camp Montford Point was established with the first African Americans to serve as Marines since the American Revolution. President Roosevelt’s executive order 8802 in 1941 banned government agencies from discriminating against employing workers due to their race. The Marine Corps, which had held out on their discrimination policies longer than any other U.S. military branch, was forced to comply.

In 1941, Black Marines were sent to North Carolina to train at Camp Lejeune. Then, in 1942, the Marine Corps started construction on its segregated training facility, which was eventually named Montford Point. The training facility offered harsh environment conditions such as swamps and drastic temperatures in the summer and winter.

Two-thirds of the African Americans who served were sent overseas. At first, they were viewed as inferior to their white counterparts and were given mostly supporting roles such as guard duty on islands that had already been secured in the Pacific.

The Marines coming from Montford Point that saw the most combat ended up being groups that were given the least combat training. Their support roles were meant to keep the frontline troops advancing by stocking ammunition and removing the dead and wounded. They learned their expert combat skills under the pressure of battle.

In 1948, President Harry Truman enacted Executive Order No. 9981, which called for equality of treatment and opportunity in all the U.S. armed forces. This ultimately led to the end of racial segregation in the U.S. military.

In 2006, the Congressional Gold Medal honoring the Tuskegee Airmen was authorized and then presented in March 2007. The obverse design features three Tuskegee Airmen, an officer, a mechanic and a pilot, as designated by their headgear. Underneath, an eagle flies with wings outstretched, symbolizing flight, nobility and the highest ideals of the nation with the inscriptions “Tuskegee Airmen,” “1941” and “1949.” On the reverse are the three types of aircraft the Tuskegee Airmen flew in World War II. The aircraft depicted are the P-40, P-51 and the B-25. “Act of Congress” is inscribed in a banner above the aircraft, and the date of 2006 sits just below. Underneath the planes reads “Outstanding combat record inspired revolutionary reform in the armed forces.” The U.S. Mint offers a bronze duplicate of the medal for collectors.

In 2021, the U.S. Mint released the final addition to its America the Beautiful quarters program. The reverse design depicts a Tuskegee Airman pilot suiting up, with the Moton Field control tower in the background. The pilot looks upward as two P-51 Mustangs fly overhead. The inscription “They fought two wars” references the dual battles the Tuskegee Airmen fought, the physical enemies abroad and racial discrimination at home. Inscriptions around the outer rim are “Tuskegee Airmen,” “Alabama,” “2021,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

Congress authorized the Congressional Gold Medal for the Montford Point Marines in 2011, and it was presented in 2012. The obverse shows three Montford Point Marines in varying uniforms with an action scene from training just below. The inscriptions on the outer rim are “Montford Point Marines,” “1942” and “1949.” The reverse depicts the marines in formation during training, with the signature water tower, a notable feature to all Montford Point Marines, in the background. The inscription “For outstanding perseverance and courage that inspired social change in the Marine Corps,” sits in the space above the marines. “2011” and “Act of Congress” line the lower rim.

These brave men took on the prejudices at home, facing adversity before, during and after the war. But this didn’t stop them from joining the fight against their country’s enemies overseas. Everyone did their part, and Black Americans were no exception, paving the way for a brighter future and desegregation.

SOURCES

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