Enduring Values
Throughout history, soldiers have trained and gone to war to fight for their countries. This month we sketch two such scenarios — one historic, one current.
By Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret.

More than 60 years ago, a group of young men from many walks of life drew together near Alexandria, La. They trained and bonded as a team. They went to war in a foreign land. They helped our nation triumph over enemies of freedom and democracy.
 
You say that doesn’t sound like an unusual story? In the 1940s it was all too common. But what made this particular scenario different was that the unit in question, the 761st Tank Battalion, became the first black armor unit to see combat in World War II. Despite the fact that the Selective Service Act of 1940 stated there would be no discrimination based on race or color, the reality was quite different. Segregation existed, and a handful of all-black units (except for a few white officers in each) were formed.
 
Because February is Black History Month, we bring to your attention the story of the 761st Tank Battalion. Many veterans of this unit had kept their memories to themselves, and many of its heroes had not been fairly recognized. Interestingly, one Panther, 2nd Lt. John Roosevelt (Jackie) Robinson, would become the first black baseball player in the major leagues.

The 761st fought in four major Allied campaigns, endured 183 days on the front, and spearheaded portions of 3rd Army commander Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr.’s advance toward Germany. Ultimately, they smashed through Germany’s Siegfried Line. Read their story, “Come Out Fighting” on page 62.

Now fast forward to 2006. Groups of young men and women — representing many racial and ethnic backgrounds — draw together at Camp Shelby, Miss. They, too, are preparing to deploy overseas to fight our nation’s enemies. But their fight will be in the war against global terrorism. Their enemies are harder to define than a column of Panzer tanks crossing the European plains.

These men and women are citizen-soldiers, members of the National Guard. Our nation relies heavily on them in the war on terrorism. The training at Camp Shelby and other posts such as Camp Atterbury, Ind., will turn part-time soldiers into full-time warriors.

At today’s training bases, troops benefit from the Army’s Total Theater Immersion concept. They drill in an environment that replicates as closely as possible the conditions they will find on deployment. Learn more about how today’s soldiers prepare to go to war in “Baghdad, USA” on page 52.

Enjoy!