African+Americans

The African Americans Involvement in Vietnam By Lane H The African American's had a large effect in the Vietnam War. Even as they confronted the daily hardships common to all American troops in the Vietnam War, black soldiers were forced to grapple with additional burdens involving racism. The Civil Rights Movement effected the soldiers, as well as back at home. Racism was a factor within many ranks, and violence was often associated. Army bars and many rest areas were off limits to African American's. However, combat had a unifying effect on the soldiers and racism was not tolerated. As a proven fact, African American's had a higher chance of being on the front line and in combat positions. Despite African Americans only holding 10% of the forces, 50% of the front line troops were African American. African American’s, however, were better fighters to every four white soldiers ,one African American died. As a result of this the war was cued a "white man's war" and a "black man's fight." In 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson launched Project 100,000, which drafted 350,000 soldiers, 41% of these were African Americans, nearly all of them were on the front line. Only two Purple Hearts were given out to African Americans during Vietnam. And only 20 Congressional Medal of Honors were given to colored men. The First Air Calvary played a major role in the Vietnam War. This all colored squadron fought in some of the bloodiest campaigns and took out many threatening units. They also had the most fatalities, and put there lives on the line to save many peoples lives.

Book: African Americans in Vietnam

Websites: www.aavw.org/ www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/aaffsfl.htm historiccamdencounty.com/ccnews04.shtml en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_ history_of_African_Americans www.deanza.edu/faculty/swensson/**african**_**american**s.html www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/af-amer/afa-vn.htm