11-168 Garand Picture of the Day

[Snafu]

Description
Guam was considered cleared but parts of the island were still dangerous half a year later.Patrolling Marines pass a dead Japanese sniper.

Information

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[ARCHER 9505]

Are those guys, African Americans? Were African Americans integrated into USMC combat units during WWII ?

History: African Americans in the U.S. Marine Corps | Black Collegian | Find Articles at BNET

[browningautorifle]

I thought that was strange too, but far be it for me to say...

[Bill Hollinger]

Yep, they are black. I have to wonder if they could actually be US Army as there were a number of Army soldiers there. It wouldn't be the first time a photo got screwed up

[RudyN]

As I remember some of the USMC Ammo and Service companies that were black did do some mopping up after the Island was secured.

[Bill Hollinger]

As I remember some of the USMC Ammo and Service companies that were black did do some mopping up after the Island was secured.

That could very well be the case here too.

[Snafu]

Description
Breaking a tradition of 167 years, the U.S. Marine Corps started enlisting African-American's on June 1, 1942. The first class of 1,200 African-American volunteers began their training 3 months later as members of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion at Montford Point, a section of the 200-square-mile Marine Base, Camp Lejeune, at New River, NC. The first Negro to enlist was Howard P. Perry shown here.(rudeerude)

[LimeyCarbineLover]

I would tend to go with Army GIs rather than Marines...lack of cammo helmet covers ..but i have been known to have been wrong before.....:-)

Regards

Lloyd