IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 455 
Expressing support for Black service members this Memorial Day who gave 
their lives to protect and defend the United States at home and abroad 
despite facing racism in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on 
United States soil. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 26, 2023 
Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK (for herself, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. BISHOP of 
Georgia, Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. JOHNSON of 
Georgia, Mr. LIEU, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CARSON, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, 
Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. BROWN, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. THOMPSON 
of Mississippi, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. PORTER, Mr. 
GREEN of Texas, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. EVANS, 
Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mr. 
MEEKS, Mr. HORSFORD, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. KILMER, and Ms. 
CROCKETT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for Black service members this Memorial 
Day who gave their lives to protect and defend the 
United States at home and abroad despite facing racism 
in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on United 
States soil. 
Whereas, for over 200 years, Black service members of the 
Armed Forces have fought and given their lives in every 
United States conflict since the Revolutionary War; 
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•HRES 455 IH 
Whereas over 5,000 free and enslaved Black colonials fought 
with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary 
War; 
Whereas nearly 40,000 Black soldiers died over the course of 
the Civil War; 
Whereas more than 350,000 African Americans served in 
segregated units during World War I and an estimated 
770 died; 
Whereas more than 1,200,000 African-American men and 
women served in segregated units in every branch of the 
United States Armed Forces during World War II, with 
over 700 dying in war operations; 
Whereas Black members of the Armed Forces fought the 
forces of fascism abroad while battling racism on United 
States soil and in the United States military; 
Whereas, in 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order 
9981 to desegregate the Armed Forces, and an estimated 
600,000 Black members of the Armed Forces served in 
the Korean War, with more than 5,000 giving their lives 
to stop the invasion of South Korea by communist forces; 
Whereas approximately 300,000 African Americans served in 
the Vietnam War, and 7,267 Black Americans died; 
Whereas nearly 25 percent of all members of the Armed 
Forces who served in the Persian Gulf War were Black, 
and 63 Black men and 3 Black women died in military 
operations during that war; and 
Whereas between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 United States in-
dividuals served in the Armed Forces during the Global 
War on Terror, and more than 7,000 died, with Black 
members of the Armed Forces making up 21 percent of 
the Army, 17 percent of the Marine Corps, 10 percent of 
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•HRES 455 IH 
the Air Force, 10 percent of the Navy, and 5.8 percent 
of the Coast Guard, despite representing 13 percent of 
the population; Now, therefore, be it— 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives ex-
presses support this Memorial Day for Black service mem-
bers who gave their lives to protect and defend the United 
States at home and abroad despite facing racism in the 
Armed Forces and systemic inequities on United States 
soil. 
Æ 
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