In Defense of the Nation: Black Iowans at War
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 The Civil War
Chapter 2 Indian Wars and the Buffalo Soldiers
Chapter 3 The Spanish American War
Chapter 4 World War I – Fort Des Moines
Chapter 5 World War II
Chapter 6 The Korean War
Chapter 7 The Vietnam War
Chapter 8 The Persian Gulf War
Appendix Endnotes
Introduction
The service and sacrifice of Black Americans in defense of the United States has been the primary engine which has driven political, economic, and social progress for Blacks in this nation from the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War. Throughout this span of over two hundred years, African Americans have contributed mightily to the cause of liberty. Colonial Patriot Crispus Attucks, a 47 year‑old former slave escaped from his white master at age 14, and ultimately became the first American to give his life on March 05, 1770, in the fight for independence from Engand. Generations later General Colin L. Powell, became the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Commander of Allied Forces in the victory over Iraq in 1991. Yet, during the first century of
American history, and into the twentieth century, Black Americans were often barred from officially serving in state militias and federal armed forces. This chapter will be devoted to tracing the service and accomplishments of African Americans from the 29th state admitted to the Union, November 5, 1846, the great state of Iowa.
Maj. Charity E. Adams, Columbia, S.C., and Capt. Abbie N. Campbell, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Ala., inspect the first contingent of Negro members of the Women’s Army Corps assigned to overseas service.
(National Archives Identifier: 531249)
African American captains at the Officer Reserve Training Camp at Fort Des Moines Army Post in Des Moines, Iowa. October 15, 1917. Photographer: Hebard Showers, Des Moines.
(State Historical Society of Iowa- Des Moines)
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CHAPTER 1- The Civil War: 1861-1865
“Our government has done nothing for them, but to put the heel upon their necks. It has denied them liberty; it has denied them the right to their own wives; denied them the right to their own children; denied them everything except the right to labor under the lash for nothing.”
Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa, 1859 1864
“Once let the Black man get upon his person the brass letters ‘U.S.’, let him get an eagle on his button and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States.”
Frederick Douglass, Abolitionist
Book Description
The service and sacrifice of Black Americans in defense of the United States has been the primary engine which has driven political, economic, and social progress for Blacks in this nation from the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War. Throughout this span of over two hundred years, African Americans have contributed mightily to the cause of liberty. Colonial Patriot Crispus Attucks, a 47-year-old former slave escaped from his white master at age 14, and ultimately became the first American to give his life on March 05, 1770, in the fight for independence from England. Generations later General Colin L. Powell, became the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Commander of Allied Forces in the victory over Iraq in 1991. Yet, during the first century of American history, and into the twentieth century, Black Americans were often barred from officially serving in state militias and federal armed forces. This book is devoted to tracing the service and accomplishments of African Americans from the 29th state admitted to the Union, November 5, 1846, the great state of Iowa. Morris’ unique approach to this topic takes his readers back in time, with personal interviews and accounts from veterans and explores the broad multi-generational African American military experience. The bravery and strength of these soldiers should inspire the next generation of Americans and expand their knowledge of Black achievement beyond slavery and racism.