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By Sept. 2, 1945, more than 16 million Americans had donned uniforms and served in the U.S. military to fight and win World War II. Of those, more than 1 million were African-Americans who served in all branches of the military and combat theaters.
Master Sgt. Angela Parker, senior human resources professional with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, holds a photograph of Congressional Medal of Honor winner Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers during a visit to the Lorraine American Cemetery Monday in St. Avold, France. Rivers is one of only seven African-American Soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor for service during World War II.
By the end of the war, none were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Finally, in 1997, seven African-American Soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor following a study that determined there was racial disparity in the selection of Medal of Honor awardees, including one who is laid to rest in nearby St. Avold, France.
Units and organizations across the Army have found different ways to celebrate African-American history and military contributions during the month of February. U.S. Army Air Defenders with 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and members of the South Carolina National Guard’s 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command visited the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France, and learned the story of Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers, a tank commander with the 761st Tank Battalion — a battalion that fought across Europe with Gen. George Patton’s Third Army.
“There are 10,489 brave Americans interred here,” said Col. Gregory Brady, the 10th AAMDC commander. “As we honor them today we recognize one in particular. Staff Sgt. Rivers represented the best of our Army values; he refused to be evacuated for injuries, continued to lead when more senior leaders were giving up and fought bravely for several days after being injured until he was killed in action.”
Connecting to the event in a meaningful way was easy for the Soldiers who visited, thanks in part to a guided tour of the cemetery grounds. The tour featured an interactive conversation about the contributions and bravery of Rivers and his all-black tank battalion, units considered inferior by many at the time.
“The tour guide really brought the visit to life by making it about a central theme of having a dream. From Dr. King so many years later to the Soldiers here in letters home and the family members that dreamed of their return,” said Master Sgt. Paul Rowland, an air defense operations sergeant with headquarters 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
Rivers’ recognition and awarding of the CMOH was made possible after years of persistence by his former commanding officer and a review of awards for valor given to minority troops during the war.
“We’ve learned a lot about the service of African-Americans during World War II, and I’m proud that we’re recognizing these Soldiers based on their heroism,” said Maj. Patrisha Schneider, an operations officer with 10th AAMDC.
More information about African-American Soldiers who served during World War II is available online at www.history.army.mil.
