Love, War, and the 96th Engineers (Colored): The World War II New Guinea Diaries of Captain Hyman Samuelson

by Gwendolyn Midlo Hall (Editor)

An intimate view of a segregated African-American battallion of the United States Army Corp of Engineers stationed in New Guinea during World War II, edited from the diaries and letters of their Southern Jewish captain. The book shows how he lost his stereotypes about them as he came to know and love them.

344 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

Gwendolyn Midlo Hall (born 27 June 1929) is an American historian who focuses on the history of slavery in the Caribbean, Latin America, Louisiana (United States), Africa, and the African Diaspora in the Americas.

Reviews

[Briann Shear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remarkable book consists of the diaries, photos and personal letters of Hyman Samuelson, written during his service in the army during WWII. A fascinating glimpse of history through the eyes, mind and heart of a young man lifted from his life as student and young husband and dropped into a new life as a civil engineer leading building projects on the Japanese-occupied island of New Guinea during WWII. The military story and the very personal story of him and his young wife weave throughout.

[Deborah Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting topic but doesn't really fulfill its promise; I came away wanting more than it delivered.