8.+The+Tuskegee+Airmen+and+other+successes+by+US+minorities

Veronica Connor

This is Mary Jane Watson, covering a very accomplished group of people. They are known as the Tuskegee Airmen. These men are now officially  America   ’s first black military airmen (Who 1). Nine hundred  twenty-six pilots obtained their pilot’s wings with the Tuskegee Institute (Altman 1). Their fist victory against an enemy aircraft was won in  Sicily   (Danzer 573). They are highly acclaimed for never  loosing a   U.S.   bomber to an enemy aircraft (Altman 1). In all of their  combat missions they destroyed eleven enemy planes, a hundred and fifty enemy land vehicles, and a German destroyer (Altman 1). For fighting so vigorously against Luftwaffe, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations (Danzer 573). The Distinguished Unit Citations happens to be the military’s commendation, and they sure had to work hard to earn two of them (Danzer 573). Another remarkabl e African American army unit is the ninety-second Infantry Division or, commonly called, the Buffaloes (Danzer 573). Their valiantly fought battles in  Europe   won them seven Legion of Merit awards, sixty-five Silver Stars, and one-hundred-sixty-two Bronze Stars (Danzer 573). Mexican Americans were segregated into battle units. (Danzer 573) They fought pretty well too. Seventeen Mexican Americans were given the Congressional Medal of Honor for their noble efforts (Danzer 573). Japanese Americans fought bravely as well in battles in  Italy   and   North Africa   (Danzer 573). Japanese Americans made up the four-hundred-forty-two Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in the history of  America. These and many other minority soldiers contributed greatly to American victories.

Citations:

Altman, Susan. "  Tuskegee   Airmen." Encyclopedia of African-American Heritage, Second Edition. New York  : Facts On File, Inc., 2000. American History Online. Facts On File,  Inc.     Hunterdon     Central Regional    High School. 19 Mar. 2009. Danzer, Gerald, et al. The Americans. IL: McDougal Little Inc., 2003. “Who were the Tuskegee Airmen.”  Tuskegee   Airmen History. 18 Mar.  <>