Just as changes had been
seen in the armed forces at the
end of the Korean war for
blacks, the same was happening
in America. In 1964, the Civil
Rights Bill was passed which
banned discrimination of blacks
in all sectors. By the end of
that year, the U.S. had sent
over 180,000 soldiers to fight
the Viet Cong in Vietnam. The
military deemed it necessary to
step up recruiting and heavily
targeted men and women, black
and white. Many chose to serve
as a way t o
gain respect from whites in
showing that they too would
defend the country. Though
blacks only constituted 11% of
the population they would make
up almost 13% of the fighting
force in Vietnam. Just prior to
the outbreak of war, President
John F. Kennedy realized that
though blacks made up a
significant percent of the
population they were not well
represented throughout the armed
forces. The President called for
studies to be done on how to
change recruiting and aim it
towards attracting to blacks
when tensions began to rise out
of Vietnam and the issue was set
aside. The draft did not
discriminate against black or
white, and now blacks were being
drafted by the hundreds. Blacks
at a disadvantage with the draft
because men could defer if
attending college and if they
held certain civilian
occupations, which mostly were
held by white males. Most blacks
were also slotted into combat
positions and had a higher death
rate than any other race
fighting, counting for over 15%
of all combat related deaths.
Fifteen blacks would be awarded
the Medal of Honor for their
actions in the fighting. While
blacks fought in Vietnam, the
rest back home were fighting for
their civil rights and those
once granted then the acceptance
by the country. |
o
gain respect from whites in
showing that they too would
defend the country. Though
blacks only constituted 11% of
the population they would make
up almost 13% of the fighting
force in Vietnam. Just prior to
the outbreak of war, President
John F. Kennedy realized that
though blacks made up a
significant percent of the
population they were not well
represented throughout the armed
forces. The President called for
studies to be done on how to
change recruiting and aim it
towards attracting to blacks
when tensions began to rise out
of Vietnam and the issue was set
aside. The draft did not
discriminate against black or
white, and now blacks were being
drafted by the hundreds. Blacks
at a disadvantage with the draft
because men could defer if
attending college and if they
held certain civilian
occupations, which mostly were
held by white males. Most blacks
were also slotted into combat
positions and had a higher death
rate than any other race
fighting, counting for over 15%
of all combat related deaths.
Fifteen blacks would be awarded
the Medal of Honor for their
actions in the fighting. While
blacks fought in Vietnam, the
rest back home were fighting for
their civil rights and those
once granted then the acceptance
by the country.