What jobs did African Americans have in the US military during World War 2?

Answer 1

They usually were cooks but in emergencies they also could be gunners, blood donors, and helpers in the hospitals.

Well, there were the Tuskegee airmen , they were the 1st all African American flying unit. They never lost a bomber due to enemy planes during their escorts. They were thought to be some of the best.

African Americans held many important combat jobs that are seldom heard about:

Tuskegee Airman are the most famous.

69th Tank Battalion, "Black Panthers"

Truck Drivers for the Red Ball Express.

In the Pacific Theater they held from Infantry to Support jobs. Some of the less famous but invaluable service they did was to provide Marines with supplies on the beaches throughout the pacific. The troops bringing the supplies ashore at Iwo Jima were black and Army. They did this under extreme fire from Japanese positions.

African American Soldiers served in fewer numbers but along side their white counterparts throughout both theatres of WWII.

African Americans took on numerous roles throughout WWII. They did anything from soldiers to mess-men. One of seven men to enlist in the military were African Americans. In the Pacific Theater African Americans held roles from Infantry to Support jobs. They also provided the Marines with supplies on the beaches throughout the Pacific. The troops bringing the supplies ashore at Iwo Jima were African Americans in the Army. They did this honorable work under extreme fire from the Japanese positions and the African Americans knew that they had been sent on some type of suicide mission. They still continued to fight for a country that did not support them and that placed them in the most deadly roles possible. African Americans also took on roles as laborers: cut trees, unloaded boats, made railroads They also took on jobs as: cooks (mess-men) servants for the officers, and truck drivers for numerous branches.

Around 3,695 Soldiers with the 95th Engineer Regiment were heavily involved in the construction of the ALCAN (Alasaka-Canada) Highway in 1942.

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The role of the Black soldier in WW2 was complex, and not easily generalized. Many served in combat units in the US Army's European theater. I understand that the first troops to cross the bridge at Remagen and enter Germany were Blacks, that Black troops were among those that liberated concentration camp survivors and - reputedly - stopped the German advance at the Battle of the Bulge. My father was a US Naval petty officer in World War Two, serving in the Pacific theater as an electrician's mate. He fought at the Battle of Leyte Gulf and landed in three separate beach heads. Two or three of my uncles were in the Red Ball Express, serving in the European Theater during WW2, where they amassed a legacy as honorable as that of the Tuskegee Airmen. Black soldiers have served with distinction in every war in this nation's history, and many fought at Yorktown. To diminish that role not only perpetuates an inaccurate picture of Black contributions to American history, but suggests a need to return to the history books. As a child, it was a given that Blacks had and would continue to serve their nation with honor.

Answer 2

There were the Tuskegee airmen, and many African-American units.

At the beginning of the war, most African American soldiers were regulated to either construction units or support units. They drove trucks, constructed highways, and performed menial labor task. As the war progressed and manpower shortages started to be a problem. African Americans started performing more combat duties starting with the Artillery. Later African Americans made up the Tuskegee Airman unit. I believe that it was the only fighter escort unit not to lose a bomber to German fighters. Also Patton had a excellent Armored Formation under his command that was African American that he highly regarded for their bravery.

African Americans played a very important part in World War 2.

Answer 3

In most of the branches of the military they did service jobs because they were not allowed to fight in combat. In the Army they were eventually allowed to serve as airmen, tank drivers/bombers, and in the infantry. Eleanor Roosevelt was responsible for getting the blacks in combat in the Army.

Service jobs were anything that was not fighting. The majority of them served in the quartermaster corp and on cleaning crews.

Answer 4

They did the same things as white guys.