Kadena celebrates African-American military heroes Published Feb. 17, 2011 By John W. Perkins Equal Opportunity office KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The American Civil War, 1861-1865, was a difficult time in our nation's history. Conflict between Union and Confederate forces divided not only a country, it also pitted fathers against sons, brothers against brothers, and slaves against oppression and tyranny. In the South, black men were initially pressed into service in non-combat support roles and as the war progressed they were placed in combat positions to shore up declining forces. In the North, free blacks and runaway slaves were eager to do their part. Despite facing unfair treatment, violence, and discrimination, more than 200,000 blacks voluntarily joined the military ranks to fight for the Union cause - the cause of freedom. Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry units, as well as non-combat support functions. Black carpenters, chaplains, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the war cause. A few of the notable blacks to serve in the Civil War deserve to be mentioned for their accomplishments: In July 1863, Union soldier William H. Carney became the first of 25 black servicemen to receive our country's highest military honor for bravery, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, Charleston, S.C. Thirteen of these medals were earned in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Va. Robert Smalls was a slave forced to serve on a Confederate naval vessel in Charleston Harbor. One night while the white officers slept, he snuck his family on board. Then, he and several other black sailors took the boat out of the harbor and surrendered it to Union forces. President Lincoln met with Mr. Smalls and the others at the White House. Smalls was later commissioned a captain in the Union Navy and commanded his own ship. After the war, he served in the South Carolina and U.S. Senates. Susie King Taylor was a slave freed by Union troops at Fort Pulaski, Ga. in 1861. An educated woman, able to read and write, she remained with the Army throughout the war serving as the first black nurse and as a teacher. Building on a proud military heritage set by black Civil War soldiers and sailors, African-American men and women have continued to honorably serve our nation. Major Robert H. Lawrence was the first African-American astronaut, even though he never made it into space. A test pilot assigned to the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program, Lawrence died in an F-104 Starfighter crash at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Dec. 8, 1967. Army Private First Class William H. Thompson earned the Medal of Honor in August 1950 when he sacrificed his life to allow the rest of his unit to escape a force of North Korean soldiers. Marine Private First Class James Andersen, Jr. sacrificed his life at Cam Lo, Vietnam in February 1967, by smothering a grenade with his body. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson became the U. S. Military's first black female prisoner of war when she was captured in an-Nasiriyah, Iraq in April 2003. She was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for her service. During the month of February, let's take a few moments to honor and reflect upon the legacy and contributions of our black/ African American service members. For more information regarding the accomplishments of these men and women, call the Kadena Equal Opportunity office at 634-2571.