November 1, 2021
Historian Cline (From Reconciliation to Revolution) presents in this immersive history the first-person accounts of Black soldiers who served in the Korean War. He delves into the history of the all-Black 24th Infantry Regiment, which “acquired one of the longest records of unrelieved service on the front lines” before it was disbanded in 1951, and notes that Black newspapers and the NAACP demanded a role for Black servicemen beyond the traditional menial functions of transport and food services. Interview subjects, including congressmen John Conyers and Charles Rangel, recount resistance to integration at the military bases where they trained, and vividly describe harsh winter conditions in Korea. Though President Truman claimed in 1950 that “all of America is proud of our Negro fighters in Korea,” racist incidents persisted, as did unfounded accusations that Black troops were “bugging out” under fire. Harrowing close calls abound—Rangel says that during the battle of Kunu-ri Pass “the whole concept of my life began anew because I knew then that I was dead.” After the war, returning Black servicemen were “rudely reintroduced to Jim Crow,” and some took leading roles in the civil rights movement. Richly detailed and thoughtfully presented, this is a treasure chest of insight into the Black military experience.
Starred review from December 1, 2021
In 1948, President Truman's Executive Order 9981 ordered the desegregation of the U.S. military. In this exceptionally researched volume, Cline (history, San Diego State Univ.; From Reconciliation to Revolution) shows that the act of desegregating was far more complicated than expected. The author has compiled interviews from Black American veterans of the Korean War (1950-53), the first conflict fought by an integrated U.S. military. These interviews shed light on their experiences during and after the war and reveal that desegregation of the military was a patchwork process implemented at different rates, largely depending on the decisions of local commanders. In addition to all the challenges of war, Cline's interview subjects faced additional hardships due to discrimination. Readers will appreciate the wide variety of voices represented, including various military branches as well as officers and enlisted men and women from different regions of the United States. Among the prominent interview subjects are Congressmen John Conyers and Charles Rangel. VERDICT This is an essential, insightful read on an often-overlooked subject, for those interested in military history and African American history.--Joshua Wallace, Tarleton State Univ. Lib. Stephenville, TX
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