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The Vietnam War saw the highest proportion of African-American soldiers in the US military up to that point. [2] Though comprising 11% of the US population in 1967, African Americans were 16.3% of all draftees. [3] During the period of the Vietnam War, well over half of African American draft registrants were found ineligible for military ...
Milton Lee Olive III (November 7, 1946 – October 22, 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic action in the Vietnam War when at the age of 18, Olive sacrificed his life to save others by falling on a grenade. In so doing so he became the first ...
Because of the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. [1] Of the 3,525 Medals of Honor awarded as of March 2023, 95 have been awarded to 94 different African-American recipients. [2] Robert Augustus Sweeney is one of 19 men, and the only African American, to have been awarded two Medals of Honor.
Robert L. Howard. Robert Lewis Howard (July 11, 1939 – December 23, 2009) was a United States Army Special Forces officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. He was wounded 14 times over 54 months of combat, was awarded the Medal of Honor, eight Purple Hearts, a Distinguished Service Cross, [a] a Silver ...
In the summer of 1968 two of the largest prison rebellions of the war took place in Vietnam, both led by Black soldiers. On August 16, at the overcrowded Da Nang Marine brig, a scuffle between guards and inmates escalated into a riot. Prisoners took over the compound for close to two full days. [6]
333rd Field Artillery Battalion African-Americans captured during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944. 12th Armored Division soldier with German prisoners of war, April 1945. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American pilots in United States military history; they flew with distinction during World War II.
In 1969, the U.S. troop presence in Vietnam reached its peak of 549,000, [5] and Black people often made up a disproportionate 25% or more of combat units in Vietnam, while constituting only 12% of the military. 20% of black males were combat soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, while the percentage of Whites in combat roles was lower. [6] [7]
Years of service. 1968–1969. Rank. Private first class. Unit. Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division [1] Battles/wars. Vietnam War †. Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 – June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War, dying at the age of 15.