The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1942-10-03
coLoRED ARMY COMMAND

Will the War Department entrust the Battle Com
mand of Race troops to Coored Army officers? Will
Coored officers be relieved of command when their troops
are ready for the 'front.'" Are we to see revival of
the Colonel Young World War Number One tragedy?
Will General B. o. Davis actually be the head
of thousands of Race troops when the chips down?
These are not alarmist questions. Every Race World
War veteran of World War Number One knows these
are not dsloyal questions Acting upon the mistakes
made in world War Number One fully justified in
presenting these issues in order stave off potential in
terracial misunderstanding and assure firm national
unity
This is national question. Throughout the length
and breadth of America both white and Colored citizens
greatly impressed by the rapid increase in Coored
Army officer personnel To some of our citizens this
wholesale training of Coored officers something quite
The future seems rosy with no limits to officer
grade in sight and newly trained young have
pardonable pride in newly won bars
But what the outlook in 1917? Times haven't
changed too much In World War Number One there
Colored officers being trained and there
special Colored officers training School in Des Moines
Iowa. There also the similar planning of the Ninety
Second and Ninety Third Coored Divisions. There
the buoyan and boundless enthusiasm among the
home folks who believed that now, at last, Coored Of
fcers were going to be 'put in command" Many who
read this editorial will remember back the years
We remember how it all changed.
Colonel Young was relieved of his command. Other
esteemed and high ranking Coored Army officers were
quietly shifted in rank conveniently reegated to the
background white officers took active command of
all Colored troops. Many Race leuenants of the time
experienced difficult time holding their ranks, due to
prejudice. AColored captain a item at the
front and it not uncommon for to be the
highest Colored rank in entire regiment The home
folks bitter but helpless. The soldier morale in
certain undoubtedly not of the best This
g situation, bred in World War Number One, which must
not be repeated. is happening which has left its
and most Coored Army veterans living
today to view the rapid advancement of crop of
training school graduates" with mixed emotions of
But soldier is realist and every veteran real
ICES the issue is quite clear.
We either training young Colored officers to
the manful and military duty of leading troops into
bat schooling young to become brass
button unkes for southern social mitarists who still
consider Coored genial slaves in this business of
The very future will decide the role of
modern trained soldiers. We all hoping for the
very best. But in hoping also prepared, if
sary, to petition for the very best
This editorial is not to be considered acceptance
of the separate Colored divisions in the u S. Army Navy
and Airforce. The GUARDIAN advocates mixed and
real American Armed Force just Coored troops
fighting for a mixed and real American DE-
MOCRACY.
We firmly believe that if white are to be put in
command of Colored troops then the War Department
should equally distribute Coored officer personnel among
white units of he Army Navy and Arforce.
This not social mixing; this is WAR!