17-4-2 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Members of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, are getting last minute instructions from Lt. Manotti before going out on patrol in Bougainville jungle. P.I. 16 April 1944.

Information

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[RT Ellis]

If the "P.I." in the caption is supposed to represent Philippine Islands it's incorrect. According to Stanton's Order of Battle U.S. Army World War II p. 204, the 24th Infantry Regiment (colored) was engaged on Bougainville Island, New Guinea, which is probably where this image was photographed. The 24th Infantry received campaign participation credit for Northern Solomons, and Western Pacific, and was on Okinawa at the end of the War.

[Flying10uk]

In 2017, it does seem like a very bizarre and unpractical idea to have a totally segregated armed forces. It must have made matters very difficult just from a logistical point of view having to supply 2 parallel armies and 2 parallel army air-forces.

[RT Ellis]

In 2017, it does seem like a very bizarre and unpractical idea to have a totally segregated armed forces. It must have made matters very difficult just from a logistical point of view having to supply 2 parallel armies and 2 parallel army air-forces.

Logistical issues was the least of the problems associated with the black units in the U.S. armed forces. The social barriers created a great deal of problems, for example no black officer was allowed to command white troops, and white officers assigned to black units were often thought to be at the end of their careers. Black officers and enlisted men were limited in assignment and promotional opportunities. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., son of Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Sr., was "silenced" his entire four years at West Point. The father was given assignments so that he wouldn't command any white units so didn't have much opportunity for promotion. The son was eventually promoted to General in the USAF after desegregation.

For interesting reading on this matter I recommend "Strength for the Fight, A History of Black Americans in the Military" 1989 Bernard C. Nalty, and "Benjamin O. Davis Jr.: American" 1991 autobiography.

[CINDERS]

Yes the Red Tails showed just how wrong the prejudices were about coloureds (Tuskegee Airmen)

[daboone]

The 442nd Go For Broke Nisei are another example of prejudices prove undeserved and wrong.

As a side note the Nisei love Spam. There are at least 4 different Spam cookbooks written by Hawaiian Japanese families that are popular in Hawaii.

[Bob Womack]

And then there is Spam Haiku that is especially loved by Hawaiians and especially Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Keola Beamer. Select quotes:

Silent, former pig
One communal awareness
Myriad pink bricks

Twist, pull the sharp lid
Jerks and cuts me deeply but
Spam, aaah, my poultice

In mud you frolicked
Till they cut, cleaned and canned you
How now, ground sow?

“Slow down,” she whispered
now guiding my trembling hands
“Turn the key slowly.”

Pinky beef temptress
I can no longer remain
Vegetarian

I put my shoes on
But remember far too late
My secret Spam stash.

Bob

[WarPig1976]

I like Spam.

[browningautorifle]

I like Spam

I on the other hand would rather not. It's surprising how this item fed the guys and had the two distinct groups. Not really a middle ground. I still have close associates from the army that STILL have it on a quasi regular basis for meals.

[Flying10uk]

Didn't the Russians believe that Spam helped them win the War in Eastern Europe, together with the T34 tank?

I remember that as a child when money was fairly tight and my mother struggled to put food on the table, occasionally she'd buy a tin of Spam. She'd cut it into strips lengthways and lightly grill it. It seemed to appear for evening tea on the occasional weekend and I guess it was her way of trying to vary my brother's and my diet.