3. The first American Army was fully integrated
On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, committing his administration to end segregation in the American military. Many believe that his order, and Eisenhower’s efforts during the ensuing administration, integrated the American military for the first time in history. That belief is false. Black Americans served alongside White and Native American troops in George Washington’s Continental Army, in fully integrated units. About 6,000 Black Americans fought for American Independence during the Revolutionary War, making up roughly 20% of the Northern Continental Army which defeated the British during the Saratoga Campaign. In 1792, in the Federal Militia Acts, Congress excluded Blacks from military service.
The exclusion did not apply to the Navy. At least, it was overlooked by ship captains responsible for manning their crews. Ships at sea lost men to disease, accidents, and combat and captains replaced them in port, accepting able-bodied crewmen regardless of race. Approximately 15% of crewmen serving on US Navy ships during the War of 1812 were Blacks. On privateers (privately owned commerce raiders) the percentage often exceeded that number, with some crewed nearly entirely by Black sailors. Black Americans continued to serve in the US Navy throughout its history, a fact often ignored in history texts. One of the earliest American heroes of World War II, Doris Miller, earned the Navy Cross for manning an anti-aircraft gun aboard USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Miller, a cook, had no training on the weapon, though he shot down at least one Japanese aircraft.