Blood for Dignity: The Story of the First Integrated Combat Unit in the U.S. Army

by David P. Colley

Meticulously researched and wonderfully suspenseful, Blood for Dignity is the tale of a fascinating and little-known piece of World War II American history, seen through the eyes of 5th Platoon, K Company, 394th Regiment, 99th Division--the first black unit integrated with a white infantry company since the Revolutionary War. David P. Colley paints an absorbing, combat-heavy portrait of these African American and white men fighting together for their country—an historical event whose resonance would be felt for generations, and whose lesson would be transposed onto American society, shattering myths and destroying assumptions that had haunted blacks for years.

The integration of African American platoons with white combat units at the tail end of World War II almost didn’t happen. With the pressing need for more troops and the vision of men such as Dwight Eisenhower, black soldiers who only wanted to fight for their country were finally given the opportunity in March of 1945. The performance of these soldiers laid to rest the accepted white attitude of a century and a half that African Americans were cowardly and inferior fighters. In fact, they proved to be just the opposite.

From basic training in the deep south, to hard labor in Europe, these men traveled a long and difficult road before they could take up arms for their country. The 5th of K finally saw combat at the Remagen Bridgehead as they fought side-by-side with white soldiers, driving back a dangerous German army in 1945.

Thanks to in-depth interviews with many of those who fought in and alongside the 5th of K, author David P. Colley mixes the horrors of war with the intensely personal in a way that brings us closer to the brave men of this Platoon—a group of soldiers whom readers will come to know and admire and not soon forget.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, American History, War, American

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2003

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

"BLOOD FOR DIGNITY: The Story of the First Integrated Combat Unit in the U.S. Army" tells a story of the combat achievements of African American GIs during the Second World War in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) that is largely unknown by most Americans today.

As a result of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, which represented the last, great German offensive in the West and largely impacted upon American forces in Belgium, a significant number of white GIs were killed in that battle. So much so that a call was made from the headquarters of General Eisenhower, seeking volunteers for combat service (in the infantry) among the segregated non-combatant units. In response to that call, many African American soldiers volunteered to fight at the front, even though for some non-commissioned African American soldiers (NCOs), their service in combat would mean their having to relinquish their NCO rank and being reduced to the rank of corporal.

"Blood for Dignity" focuses on the combat achievements of African American soldiers who fought in integrated platoons of the 99th Infantry Division from late 1944 until victory was achieved in Europe on May 8, 1945. (This book has special resonance for me because my late father - who enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 1943 - served in Europe with a segregated unit of General George S. Patton's Third Army, seeing action from Normandy, to the Battle of the Bulge, and through Germany into Czechoslovakia by May 1945. He was later honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in Paris, France in July 1946, age 21.)

I highly recommend "Blood for Dignity" for anyone who wants to learn about an aspect of American history that deserves to be more widely known.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge WWII History buff but one thing I haven't read much about is the role of African-American soldiers, mainly because they were relegated to the service units rather than combat. Thanks to that horrible idea- segregation- able bodied and patriotic men were forced to stand by despite a strong desire to fight. This book tells the story of the first combat unit in the Army and how these brave, strong men proved all the naysayers wrong. I found the story gripping, infuriating, heartbreaking and fascinating. There were times while reading this book and seeing how yet again racism reared its ugly head when I wondered why these soldiers would fight for a country that often treated German POWs better. This book is not for the squeamish as it doesn't hide the hard part of war but I couldn't put it down.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood for Dignity chronicles the story of black men in the US military, especially the army, since early Colonial days. The author takes the remembered experiences of both black soldiers and some white officers who finally got to fight the Germans during the final three months of war against Germany. as platoons in white infantry companies. Based on interviews with these veterans, the book helps to dissuade the belief that only whites fought in combat units and touches on some of the issues of segregation and discrimination.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in awe of this story. I was always interested in World War Two, but I never stopped to think of the role of African-Americans in it all. I knew about the Red Ball Express and respected the men that were in it. The combat role these men played in the final days of the war is incredible. They deserve all the respect and recognition this nation can give.

[Stephen Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick-reading social history of a particular group of black infantry replacements in WW2. It would serve as a good introduction to the topic. For those more familiar, it's an enjoyable personalization of the topic.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. It touched my heart.