Blood for Dignity: The Story of the First Integrated Combat Unit in the U.S. Army
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.51 (720 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0312300352 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-12-11 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
My Dad Lauren A. Anderson My father is one of the brave men featured in this book. He was and will always be my hero. Guess I'm a little biased, but those are the facts. It's a shame 50+ years had to go by before any Bronze Stars were awarded to the men for their bravery.. Larry Mark MyJewishBooksDotCom said Gives recognition but also tells an exciting battle story. As the son of a 99th Division infantryman, I heard stories of The Battle of the Bulge, and the Remagan Bridge battles. So when I saw this unique book on the first "integrated" army units of WWII, many serving in the 99th, I purchased it. Just as Chinese workers were rarely pictured in the 19th Century railway construction photos, black soldiers never appeared in popular WWII films, except when seen as laborers, servants, orderlies, or drivers. This book helps to initiate wider recognition of these men and a historical correction. Each of the early. Anne Dellinger said Heroes Again and Again. I read this book years ago and have found my thoughts returning to it often. No one to whom I've mentioned it, though, has been familiar with the facts. They should be far better known. These soldiers, from many units, were invited to volunteer for an all-black unit assigned to "mop up" during the highly dangerous last months in Germany.Although their performances far exceeded expectations, they were accorded almost none of the recognition, honors and gratitude given white units. At least, however, top U.S. military personnel took note (literally)
The focus is the Fifth Platoon, K Company, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, in action in March and April of 1945, against a German army down but far from out. All felt they had something to prove and by and large come away satisfied. . Based on comprehensive interviews and use of written sources, the book will be steadily engaging for anyone interested in WWII and integration history. Colley (The Road to Victory: The Untold Story of Wold War II's Red Ball Express) presents the men directly, flaws and all. Its subject is the African-American platoons added to white rifle companies near the end of the war in Europe because of a desperate shortage of infantry replacements.
From basic training in the deep south, to hard labor in Europe, these men traveled a long and difficult road before they could take up arms for their country. In fact, they proved to be just the opposite. With the pressing need for more troops and the vision of men such as Dwight Eisenhower, black soldiers who only wanted to fight for their country were finally given the opportunity in March of 1945. The 5th of K finally saw combat at the Remagen Bridgehead as they fought side-by-side with white soldiers, driving back a dangerous German army in 1945. David P. Colley mixes the horrors of war with the intensely personal in a way that brings us closer to the brave men of this Platoon—a group of soldiers whom readers will come to know and admire and not soon forget.. The performance of these soldiers laid to rest the accepted white attitude of a century and a half that African Americans were cowardly and inferior fighters. Thanks to in-depth interviews with many of those who fought in and alongside the 5th of K, author David P. Meticulously researched and wonderfully suspenseful, Blood for Dignity is the tale of a fascinating and little-known piece of World War II American history, seen through the eyes of 5th Platoon, K Company, 394th Regiment, 99th Division--the first black unit integrated with a white infantry company since the