AIR RESERVE STATION Role of blacks in military history cited

It's easy to form stereotypes of minorities when history has gaps, the speaker said.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
VIENNA -- If people want to better understand this nation's military history and more fully appreciate those who served, the contributions of black soldiers must be included.
That was a main tenet of a presentation given by Benjamin L. McGee, keynote speaker at Wednesday's 910th Airlift Wing Black History program at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.
This year's theme, "A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social and Civic Organizations," focused on black soldiers who served during the Civil War as well as World Wars I and II.
McGee, superintendent of Youngstown City Schools from 1997 to 2004, told the audience of 75 to 80 people that it's important to "fill in the gaps" of this country's military history by recognizing the accomplishments of black soldiers, many of whom have been forgotten.
Examples
The former superintendent cited Sgt. Eddie Carter as well as the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of black fighter pilots from Tuskegee, Ala.
"These people ... helped hasten our victory in World War II," McGee said.
Largely because of segregation during WWII, he noted, blacks in the military were relegated to jobs such as digging trenches and cooking meals. Those who wished to be in combat often had to give up their stripes because they were not permitted to command white soldiers, he continued.
Nevertheless, Carter persisted and went on to fight in China and Spain. Despite being shot, Carter saved hundreds of American soldiers' lives during the Battle of the Bulge when he took out various nearby German encampments, McGee said.
The Tuskegee Airmen escorted other pilots during missions over Germany, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. No fighters lost their lives when the black airmen escorted them, McGee noted.
Also mentioned was Capt. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who graduated in 1936 in the top 15 percent of his class at West Point Military Academy. Even though he was ostracized by many West Point cadets because of his race, Davis entered the Air Force and completed his training in 1942. He went on to lead the Tuskegee Airmen and in 1954 became the Air Force's first black general.
McGee began his presentation by passing out a hypothetical story and questionnaire about a man who demanded money in a store. Many details were deliberately omitted, and those in the audience answered questions, the answers to many of which had to be inferred, based on the narrative.
In the same way, it is easy to form stereotypes and generalizations of blacks and other minorities when "history has gaps in it," such as the gaps in the story, McGee pointed out. "You can't tell the story of World War II properly without telling of the contributions of blacks," he added.
During his tenure as superintendent, McGee initiated the Underground Railroad project in the city schools. As a result of their research, students have documented several sites in the Mahoning Valley where slaves stayed on their way to Canada. The students' work should be published soon, McGee said.