page_title: Military history of African Americans in the Vietnam War
section_title: Service
hierarchical_section_title: Military history of African Americans in the Vietnam War / Service
caption_attribution_description: English: Members of the 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry (Mechanized), set up an M-60 machine gun position during a search and clear mission. In the background are the M-113 Armored Personnel carriers. Photograph unclassified 30 November 1970.
context_page_description: African Americans played a prominent role in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was the first American war in which Black and White troops were not formally segregated, though de facto segregation still occurred.
context_section_description: Across all branches of the military, African Americans comprised 11% of all troops. However, a disproportionate number were made officers, with only 5% of Army officers African American, and 2% across all branches. African American troops were more likely to be assigned to combat units: 23% of such troops in Vietnam were Black. Racism against African Americans was particularly pronounced in the Navy. Only 5% of sailors were Black in 1971, with less than 1% of Navy officers African American.
caption: Members of the 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry (Mechanized), set up an M-60 machine gun position during a search and clear mission
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