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Show HWtopM July 23. 1998 50 years ago Euecmtive order desegregated armed forces be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion by Douglas J. Gillert American Forces Press Service ASHINGTON or national origin," the order proclaimed. When President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948, he began a process that ultimately would create a racially integrated armed forces. " Truman was motivated by the convergence of a number of events, according to Joint Chiefs of Staff historian Mickey Schubert. "America had just fought a war against militarism and racism overseas, making it hard to sustain a segregationist The document set in motion a process that over the next two decades would create the kind of military Schubert found when he was commissioned in the Army in 1965. "I was a lieutenant. I worked for majors and lieutenant colonels who were black. There were specialists who were black and worked for me," said Schubert, who is white. "By 1965, the period of integration was completed." restored the armed forces Integration War condition, Schu- . policy back home," Schubert said. Grow- ing instability on the Korean Peninsula and the emerging Cold War with the Soviet Union also convinced the pres- bert said. "There were black people serving in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and at other times, and they just served alongside whites," he said. Segregated, units would come decades later. Although thousands of blacks served with valor and distinction in the Civil War, they were assigned to segregated units of the, Union Army. After the war, ident and his advisers of the need for a large standing ajmy. In South Caroling, a sheriff went unpun- ished after he Intentionally blinded Isaac Woodard, a black former Army sergeant. "This really touched President Truman," Schubert said. Moved by tragedy and practicality, backed by political and military advis-- . ers, Truman issued his historic docu- ment, ordering equal treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces and establishing a committee to oversee military desegregation. "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the president that there shall all-bla- - ' most blacks who served did so as stewards and mess men or in a number of other service and labor jobs. Those who were smart and talented and wanted to get ahead couldn't, Schubert said. War "After the expanded the Army, there were 1,400 men commissioned from enlisted ranks Spanish-America- n and civil life. Two were black," he said. "Good, talented black enlisted men who should have had commissions weren't getting them, and couldn't get them no matter how hard they tried." In the 20th century, blacks would again distinguish themselves in battle. units like the 93rd Infantry All-blac- k Division of World War I, the 92nd and 93rd divisions and 99th Fighter Squadron of World War II, and the 24th Infantry Regiment in Korea proved their mettle and patriotism under fire. Back in rear areas and stateside gar- risons, however, black service members felt the brunt of racial prejudice in the inadequate housing and shabby treatment they endured because of the color of their skin and a national "separate but equal" policy that had been the law of the land since the last century. "When World War II ended, it was pretty plain something had to be done," Schubert said. Integrating the armed forces "was morally right and politically necessary." Air Forces officers like Col. Army O. Davis, leader of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, and Lt. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, who had recently returned to civilian life, were proponents for separate reasons. Davis wanted his fellow blacks to receive equal treatment and opportunity. Doolittle and other senior officers foresaw the long- - term need for large standing forces for a protracted Cold War. Not all military leaders agreed, but with the Air Force leading the way and under the mandate of Truman's executive order, the armed forces began tearing down racial barriers. Truman's policy came on the heels of another important milestone in America's struggle toward racial equality. Jackie Robinson's introduction to major league baseball. Both events were of extreme importance to the country, Schubert said, because they laid the groundwork for the desegregation of society as a whole. "The military didn't exist in a tennis e with racist comcamp, but munities throughout the country," he said. "Ultimately, the armed forces had the effect of dragging those communities into the modern era. Because of its fairly early changes, the military was a very important agent for change nationally." racial integration of the Could have occurred faster? Schubert thinks so and gives the military for its slow start following a the desegregation order. "Because it took so long for the processes to work," he added. "For the last generation, I think the grade is very good. Today, I'd say the military is one of the fairest of American institutions." side-by-sid- Action Line What's cooking? it Would be possible to list the cafeteria menus in the Hilltop Times again? The Base Restaurant will work with the Hilltop Times to get the daily menus published for all the branches. The menus will be published in the "Around the Hill" section. Q A Jazz tickets few years ago discount tickets and package were available for plays, games and concerts. It doesn't seem like that happens anymore. The Internal Revenue Service receives blocks of tickets for Utah Jazz games and playoff games and they always get other types of discount tickets for their employees. Why don't we have the same type of opportunities? We haven't sold Jazz tickets the last few years; however, we are negotiating to purchase season tickets for the 1998-9- Jazz schedule. In addition, great opportunities exist for tours, skiing and other events throughout the year. Some Hill AFB nights are available for Salt Lake Buzz and Ogden Raptors baseball games. Watch for upcoming events through the Thornton Community Center or go by the Tickets and Tours Office in Bldg. 460 and check out the programs and tickets available. For more information, contact Cordel Ferry, Thornton Center director at Ext QA A 9 upgrade ail network administrator Is upgrading the system to Groupwise 5. I've read that the as our Air Force will be changing to Microsoft system. It seems like a real waste to upgrade to Groupwise 5 when we will have to turn around and convert to Microsoft by the end of the fiscal year. Air Force Materiel Command is purchasing a command-wid- e license for Microsoft NT, QOur A 24-h- r. through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling ACTION LINE. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide inter-- i est to the Hill workforce will be published in the Hilltop Tunes. ...... ............ l Spencer 75th ABW Commander Published by MorMedia. Inc.. private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Onion .......7-325.... AFOSi Narcotics Hotline. Family Assistance Center (when activated) . . ....... Microsoft (Exchange, Outlook, etc.), and Microsoft applications (Word, Powerpoint, etc.). The date when the actual software will be available for AFMC use is unknown at this time. The 75th Communications Squadron and the Financial Management Directorate are heading up th'e base wide effort to migrate from Novell to Microsoft NT. The changeover could take up to a year, or 18 months after AFMC makes the software available. inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or MorMedia. Inc.. of the products or ser- Hilltop Times ............. ........ ........ Times are not necessarily the official view s of. or endorsed by. the U.S. Government the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including LTULTUVU The base agencies listed below can be contacted if you have a complaint or a problem with directly their services: Security Forces. , Crisis Information Services Bass Restaurants RetirementCompensation (civilian) Social Actions., .....7-712- 8 Employee Relations Military Pay . Civilian Pay .. Air Force Suggestion Program 5 . IG Complaints (for appointment) tQ Complaints (after hours) Fraud, Waste or Abuse (recording) ....7-491- 6 75th Medical Group ...7-185- 6 CM! Engineering Mitt Pride Hotline ......7-743- 3 , . 74201 . Public Affairs Military Housing Maintenance ......7-333- 3 Safety Office.. staffed "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air and Space Force Quality Systems for America 's Air Force Phone numbers ACTION LINE is your opportunity to make Hill AFB a better place to live, work and play. on When you call Ext or send LOGDISto "Action or on GroupWise to ID "ACTION," your comments will be recorded and vices advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex. national origin, age. marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff. Bldg. 1102. Room 118. Ext. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT. CALL ' ..... 7 To ensure a smooth migration, with little or no impact on the end users, the decision was made to continue using GroupWise 5. This will make the change from GroupWise 5 to Outlook 98 (Novell to Microsoft) virtually seamless. Your network administrator is doing what must be done. If you have any other questions, call Joe Farmer in the LI Computer and Networking Systems Office, Ext. Global Power and Reach for America. Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: MaJ. Gen. Rich Roelllg MaJ. J. Robert Ballew Commander, Director, Public Attain Office Bill Omdorff Editor Lisa Ryan, Jennifer Edmonds, Staff writer SSgL Timothy Trager OO-AL- C Deadlines: Editorial and "Around the Hill" Items, 3 p.m. Thursday, seven days before publication; sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, week of publication; classified ads, 2 p.m. Tuesday, week of publication. For more Information, call the editor, Ext 625-430- 0 T |