Any chance you are just seeing the last gasp of prejudice in the form of poor supply to the black divisions?

I can imagine the private whining to the sergeant, "Sarge, why don't I get a modern semi-automatic rifle like the rest?" I can imagine the sergeant replying in the style of SarMajor Basil Plumley of the 1 Battalion, 7th Cav, just before the battle of the Ia Drang, when Hal Moore asked if he oughtn't to trade in his 1911 for an M16icon. It would sound something like, "Sonny, if the time comes you need one, there'll be plenty lying on the ground."

Bob