Honoring Black Veterans for Black History Month

 February is Black History Month. Honoring our Black American Veterans. 

African American Soldiers in World War Two

First African-American woman to achieve rank of major general in U.S. Army inspires many

Sgt. William H. Carney won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Civil War on July 18, 1863 (the first Black soldier to receive the coveted award). Sargent Carney, a member of the 54th Massachusetts Colored infantry was wounded twice during the charge on Fort Wagner, S.C. while rescuing the Union Flag.

Henry “Black Death” Johnson. “By the time reinforcements arrived, Johnson had passed out from his wounds. By daylight, the carnage was evident: Johnson had killed four Germans and wounded an estimated 10 to 20 more in a savage hand to hand combat while suffering 21 wounds himself in the fight. Henry Johnson had prevented the Germans from breaking through the French line. He was the first American private to receive the Croix du Guerre, France’s highest military honor for extraordinary valor.

Tuskegee Air Women Tuskegee Air Women, 1940s. Assigned as weather observers and forecasters, cryptographers, radio operators, repairmen, sheet metal workers, parachute riggers, link trainer instructors, aerial photograph analysts and control tower operators in the Air Corps.

Vernon Baker, who was the only living black veteran awarded the Medal of Honor for valor in World War II, receiving it 52 years after he wiped out four German machine-gun nests on a hilltop in northern Italy, died Tuesday at his home near St. Maries, Idaho. He was 90.

The first African American female General and first African American Chief of the US Army Nursing Corps. Via: Black Art Depot

One of the few black combat regiments in World War I Their nickname they’d received from their German foes: “Hellfighters,” the Harlem Hellfighters.

But did you know……………………………

On June 14, 1864 Congress passed an amendment to the Enrollment Act of 1863 calling for equal pay for black and white soldiers. Before this, black soldiers were paid $ 7 per month compared to $ 13 for whites.

We thank ALL of our Veterans.