Vol. II, Issue 56 Friday’s Online Edition July 25, 2008

victory timesonline

Story and photo 

courtesy of Army News 

Service

Army celebrates 60 years of integrated force

Black infantry troops train on a radio system at Fort Benning, Ga. June 1941. Segregation in the 

military services officially ended with the abolition of the last all-black unit in 1954.

On July 26, 1948, 

President Harry S Truman signed Executive 

Order 9981, establishing 

the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity 

in the Armed Services. 

It was accompanied 

by Executive Order 

9980, which created a 

Fair Employment Board 

to eliminate racial 

discrimination in federal employment. 

“Our mission in the 

Army is to fight and 

win our nation’s wars. 

In order to be an effective team and in order 

to be effective on the 

battlefield, we have to 

work together,” said Lt. 

Gen. Lloyd J. Austin 

III, commanding general, Multi-National 

Corps – Iraq. “We [U.S. 

Army] treasure diversity; we appreciate the 

different viewpoints, 

ideas and cultures 

that come together.” 

Segregation in the 

military services did not 

officially end until the 

Secretary of Defense 

announced on September 30, 1954 that the last 

all-black unit had been 

abolished. However, 

the president’s directive 

put the armed forces 

at the forefront of the 

growing movement to 

win an equal social role 

and equal treatment for 

our nation’s AfricanAmerican citizens. 

“What I see as I go 

around the battlefield 

every day is not a concern for what race you 

are or what culture you 

came from, but how you 

perform as a Soldier,” 

Austin said. “I see 

incredible teamwork and 

we can all be justifiably 

proud of our Soldiers, 

airmen and Marines 

and how well they are 

working together. They 

are living the dream the 

president had in 1948.” 

The Army, a little 

slow initially to embrace the change, began 

integrating units during 

the Korean War. Eighth 

Army commanders in 

Korea began filling 

losses in their white 

units with individuals 

from a surplus of black 

replacements arriving in 

Japan in late 1950. By 

early 1951, 9.4 percent 

of all African-Americans 

arriving in theater were 

serving in some 41 

newly and unofficially 

integrated units. Another 9.3 percent were 

in integrated but predominantly black units. 

The other 81 percent 

continued to serve in 

segregated units. 

In December 1952, 

the Army Chief of Staff, 

Gen. J. Lawton Collins, ordered worldwide 

integration of Army 

units. All of the earlier 

fears cited to support 

the continuation of a 

segregated Army proved 

to be groundless. There 

was no increase in racial 

incidents, no breakdown 

of discipline, no uprising against integration 

See INTEGRATE, Page 2
Page 2 Victory Times July 25, 2008

news

 

MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III 

MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Col. Billy J. Buckner 

MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka

MNC-I Command Info Chief: Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

Editor:Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

Staff: Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp, Cpl. Frances L. Goch, Pfc. Eric 

J. Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times online welcomes columns, 

commentaries, articles and letters from our 

readers. Send submissionsor comments to 

joy.pariante@iraq.centcom.mil. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for security, 

accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.

The Victory Times Online is an authorized 

electronic publication for members of the 

Department of Defense. Contents of this 

electronic publication are not necessarily 

the official views of or endorsed by the 

U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs 

Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Camp Victory is nearly 2,000 

miles from the nearest Army library 

in Europe. But Soldiers deployed 

at the sprawling base near Baghdad 

International Airport will soon have 

access to a broad spectrum of such 

resources via an e-Branch kiosk.

 A team of movers packed and 

loaded the kiosk July 14 at the 

European Regional Library Support Center in Heidelberg, Germany, for shipment to Camp Victory, where it will be installed 

at the Victory Education Center. 

 “The kiosk will have a wonderful home here” said Staff Sgt. Jimmy Labas, education programs director at Victory Education Center.

 Labas said the kiosk “offers a 

wonderful array of knowledge 

and research capabilities” for all 

servicemembers assigned to the 

camp. “It truly is a key to success 

Movers crate an Army Europe Libraries eBranch kiosk for shipment to Camp Victory, 

Iraq. The e-Branch kiosks are designed to 

support educational opportunities for Soldiers and deliver electronic library services 

and information to customers who can’t get 

to a brick-and-mortar library.

of Soldiers, Marines, (airmen) 

and (sailors) alike,” he said. “We 

are becoming the leading education center in Iraq and are grateful to have such a useful tool.”

 Army Europe Libraries also 

have kiosks at the USO Pat Tillman Center, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan; the Warrior Transition 

Unit at Kleber Kaserne near U.S. 

Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, 

Germany; and the ERLSC in Heidelberg. 

 The e-Branch kiosks are designed to support educational opportunities for troops and deliver 

electronic library services and information to customers who can’t 

get to a brick-and-mortar library.

 The freestanding kiosks are quick 

and simple to use with touch-screen 

technology and pre-programmed 

buttons. The pre-programmed buttons mean that soldiers don’t have 

to remember Web site addresses or 

search for information. They simply touch the buttons on the screen 

to go to news, sports, scholarly 

articles or 24/7 virtual reference 

services from military librarians. 

 Soldiers can also use the kiosks 

to access a wide selection of virtual library materials: online books; 

newspapers; journals; magazines; 

dictionaries; and encyclopedias. Additionally, customers can find free 

information on education, business, 

law, marriage and family, health 

and fitness, government, travel 

and other customized information.

 

Story by Michael McNulty

European Regional Library 

Support Center

Electronic library kiosk bound for Victory

INTEGRATE, from Page 1

by white Soldiers or surrounding 

white communities, no backlash 

from segregationists in Congress, 

or major public denouncements. 

The Army and the nation 

were taking the first steps toward racial equality and harmony that would be at the 

core of the civil rights movement of the early 1960s. 

“The military services represent our culture in America,” 

Austin said. “We are a diverse population and that is 

reflected in the Army and 

the rest of the services.”

The integration of the armed 

forces did more than just provide opportunity for AfricanAmerican Soldiers; it opened the 

door of opportunity for people 

of all ethnic backgrounds.

(Marine Cpl. Frances L. Goch 

contributed to this story.)

Photo by Amy Drayer, ERLSC
commentary

July 25, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

By Capt. Derrick Knapp

MNC-I SJA

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey, 13th Public Affairs Detachment

This fall there is going to be a monumental change of power. Interest 

in the election is high because polls 

show the majority of Americans think 

our country is headed in the wrong 

direction. Our country is in a recession, there is a credit crisis, the dollar 

is weak, trade deficits are too big, gas, 

housing, and food prices are high, 

and there is a huge federal deficit. 

With so much on the line shouldn’t 

the military deployed to Iraq be 

more involved in the election? After all we have firsthand knowledge 

Keep guidelines in mind during elections

of a divisive election issue and 

our lives are more intimately affected than the average citizen. 

The military’s role is not to influence who will be our civilian leaders. 

The fact that politics are not officially 

discussed in or by the military is a 

testament to the professionalism of 

the military. Admiral Mike Mullen, 

chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, said 

“A professional armed force that 

stays out of the politics that drive 

the policies it is sworn to enforce is 

vital to the preservation of the union 

and to our way of life.” We should 

not to use our uniform as a platform 

to voice opinions on politics. We 

can vote and make monetary contributions. We can also express 

personal opinions on political candidates and issues as a private citizen. 

It is okay to discuss politics 

amongst friends, but doing so in a 

business setting is almost always bad 

form no matter how right you think 

you are. Leaders should promote and 

encourage Soldiers to exercise their 

right to vote as long as that promotion does not constitute a solicitation 

to vote for a particular candidate. 

If you are involved in politics 

be sure to read Army Regulation 600-20, Appendix B to ensure your political activity is as a 

private citizen and not as a representative of the Armed Forces. 

Col. Scott Donahue, director, C7, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, speaks during the Task Force Dragon Special Troops Battalion 

Prayer Breakfast July 17. The monthly prayer breakfast provides an opportunity for Camp Victory personnel to gather together 

to share their faith. The prayer breakfast is the third Friday of every month and begins at 7:30 a.m. in the NFL Room at the 

Sports Oasis. 

Joining in prayer
Page 4 Victory Times Online

news

Military Happenings Military Happenings

Army launches new Web site for ‘Gifts’ to Soldiers

Army News Service - The “Gifts to Army” Web 

site, launched Monday, is an online resource developed to streamline and process gifts to the 

Army that benefit Soldiers and their Families. 

 The launch of the site centralized the many venues and paths for the public whose offers of support 

fall within the Army’s overall Gift Program. Contribution options addressed on the site include support for the Army, Soldiers and their Families, 

wounded warriors, Army installations and more. 

 The “Gifts to Army” Web site provides a central source 

of information to refer those interested in contributing to 

and supporting Soldiers and Army Families and offers 

ways for them to express that support, should they choose. 

For more information, visit the “Gifts to Army” Web site at 

www.giftstoarmy.army.mil.

Senate committee reviews Air Force nominees 

 Air Force News Service - Senate Armed Services Committee members presented a number of 

questions and challenges to Air Force civilian and 

military leader nominees July 22 on Capitol Hill. 

 Michael Donley, the acting secretary of the Air Force, 

and Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, nominated to become the 

next chief of staff of the Air Force, presented their vision for 

leading the service if they are confirmed to the new positions. 

 Also joining the panel was Air Force Vice 

Chief of Staff Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, who 

was nominated to succeed Schwartz as the commander of U.S. Transportation Command. 

If the committee approves, the nominations will go before 

the full Senate for a final vote. If the president then concurs, he’ll offer official appointments to the nominees. 

U.S., Indonesia dive into salvage ops

 Navy News Service - Divers from the United States and Indonesian Navies began a sixday diving operation July 21 to survey a wreck 

in Surabaya harbor as part of joint naval engagement activities between the two nations.

 A joint diving team will conduct survey dives to 

identify the sunken vessel and determine potential 

salvage hazards such as fuel, explosives and dangerous cargo. 

Once the survey is complete, the diving teams will 

develop an underwater mechanical demolition plan 

to raise the vessel and remove it from the harbor.

 NEA is part of an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States 

and several Southeast Asian nations designed to 

build relationships and enhance the operational 

readiness of the participating forces. 

K3 Oil Refinery opens

Marine Corps News Service - The K3 Oil Refinery opened July 18 and is ready to pump life into 

the city of Haditha and Anbar province, Iraq.

“The refinery is going to help the western region 

(of Iraq),” said Col. Mohammad Hussein Al Shofer, 

Iraqi Provisional Security Forces. “Marines have 

really been supportive in the project.”

The combined effort of Marines and the Iraqi 

government has yielded great results. The refinery 

has the capacity to process 16,000 barrels of oil per 

day and will provide many jobs for local Iraqis. 

Although, the local populace in the area will benefit the most from the refinery, the refinery will in 

many ways, help all of Iraq.