Today in World War II History

African-American crewmen of the USS Mason,
Boston Navy Yard, 20 March 1944 (US National Archives)70 Years Ago—Mar. 20, 1944: Destroyer escort USS Mason commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard, the first US Navy ship with a predominately African-American enlisted crew. US Office of Price Administration announces continuation of shoe rationing (2 leather pairs/yr).