| |
In Pictures: Exploring African Americans’ long role in military service
By Tom Adkinson
February 23, 2024
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – A modest building erected in World War II as a segregated USO club now examines African Americans’ long involvement in the U.S military. It became the African American Military History Museum in 2009 due to local residents’ desire to tell stories of Black soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines from the Revolutionary War forward. In fact, a prominent mural with images from throughout American history proclaims, “There has been no war fought by or within the United States in which African Americans did not participate.” The museum uses dioramas, artifacts, narrative plaques, service medals, uniforms, photographs and more to make sure an important aspect of America’s history is not forgotten – or even ignored.
In every conflict
This mural encapsules the essence of the African American Military History Museum – Black Americans have shouldered the burdens and obligations of service from the Revolutionary War through Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism. Image by Tom Adkinson
|
Yes, a female Buffalo Soldier
A captivating diorama tells the story of the formerly enslaved Cathay Williams, who worked for the Union Army in the Civil War as a cook and laundress, and after the war changed her name to William Cathay to serve as a Buffalo Soldier on the western frontier. She served and fought, but she was discharged after her gender finally was discovered. Image by Tom Adkinson
|
Tuskegee Airmen as war bond promoters
This World War II poster for war bonds shows that the power and influence of the famed Tuskegee Airmen was recognized – at least in some quarters – as the war raged on. Image by Tom Adkinson
|
The first Black naval aviator
The navy’s first Black aviator, Jesse Brown, grew up in Hattiesburg, graduated from Ohio State University and flew in combat in Korea. He earned a Distinguished Cross. His whole story involves his wingman’s heroic, but futile, attempt to save his life. Image by Tom Adkinson
|
A place for Black soldiers to congregate
Black recruits trained at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg in World War II, but the army was a segregated institution. That accounted for construction of a USO Club for their benefit. Image by Tom Adkinson
|
A tank marks the spot
Finding the African American Military History Museum is not difficult. It is the only building on East Sixth Street with a tank in its front yard. Image by Tom Adkinson
|
Trip-planning resources: HattiesburgUSO.com and VisitHburg.org
(Travel writer Tom Adkinson’s book, 100 Things To Do in Nashville Before You Die, is available on Amazon.com. |
