Know? Did You Equality of Service: The Desegregation of the U.S. Military

As we come off the celebration of Independence Day, we take this opportunity to examine a major achievement within the American Armed Forces that was initiated 75 years ago. On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which mandated the desegregation of the U. S. military. Executive Order 9981 stated that “there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.”

Along with the order, seven men – two of whom were African American – were appointed to the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services (also known as the Fahy Committee, for its chairman Charles Fahy). According to the report written by the Fahy Committee, “In addition to the factor of equality of treatment and opportunity was the factor of military efficiency, the making of a better armed service”. The Committee reviewed procedures for the Navy, the Air Force, and the Army and found that military policy was often dictated by civilian sentiment and social practices of the time. Yet, branches – such as the Air Force – ignored local segregation laws in the Jim Crow South and operated integrated accommodations and other facilities on their bases for soldiers and their families. It was revealed that African American recruits, particularly within the Army, were denied training and education that would improve skills. In addition, the Army employed a 10% limitation on African American enlistment, further denying opportunities to jobs for qualified professionals and generally hindering the efficacy of the Army itself. The Committee found that segregation impaired the effectiveness of military services and resulted in overall inefficiency.

By 1949, the Air Force became the first fully integrated branch while the Army did not completely dissolve its segregated units until 1954. Despite active resistance by high-ranking officials, integration was accelerated with the onset of the Korean War in 1950 as white combat units faced difficulties acquiring new recruits after suffering heavy casualties. After 85 years of dedicated service, 1951 brought the deactivation of the 24th Infantry, the last remaining segregated Buffalo Soldier regiment. Eventually, the Army abolished its enlistment cap for African Americans and jobs became available based on qualifications and merit rather than race. In the wake of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, the Army stated that 95% of African American soldiers were serving within integrated units.

Thank you to the courageous individuals who fought for liberty, despite threats to their own wellbeing, both at home and abroad. We also take this moment to honor those who served in the Korean War over 70 years ago. Stop by the Plant City Photo Archives, located at 106 S. Evers St, to discover more about our local veterans. If you would like to share your photos and history, or volunteer with the Archives, please email info@plantcityphotoarchives. org or call the office at 813.754.1578.

References

Executive Order 9981, July 26, 1948; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives

Freedom to Serve: Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, A Report by The President’s Committee, United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1950

“Executive Order 9981, Desegregating the Military”, National Parks Service, 2022

“Desegregation of the Armed Forces”, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum