Ethnicity:  African-American

Branch of Service:  US Army, Europe

Contributions:  The 969th fought across Europe after landing in Normandy about a month after D-Day.  It supported infantry units in Normandy and throughout France, and moved into Belgium in October of 1944.  During the Battle of the Bulge, the 969th supported the 101st Airborne Division while surrounded in Bastogne.  They served here from December 16th 1944-Jan. 21st 1945.  After Bastogne, the 969th continued to support various divisions in Europe, serving with four Allied armies and supporting both US and French divisions.

Discrimination?

Yes.  The unit was segregated, with black soldiers commanded by mostly white officers.  

Recognition/Awards?

The 969th received a Distinguished Unit Citation on the recommendation of Major General Maxwell Taylor, commander of the 101st Airborne Division.  This was awarded for their support of the 101st during the Battle of the Bulge, as they were a key piece to the defense of the town of Bastogne in 1944.  This was the first time the DUC was awarded to an African-American unit. 

Ethnicity: African American

Branch of Service: US Marines, Mont Ford Point

Contributions: They were full-flegded Marines. They were mainly supply companies. They served under enemy fire on islands such as Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Peleliu. They were the ones that saw the most combat, even though the defense battalions were trained or it. These supply service men turned into combat troops where they served with distinction and eared admiration of their fellow marines. The only troops available were Montfort Point Marines working on the beaches to bring in supplies.

Discrimination?

Yes, they were segregated because blacks were taken to completely different camps itself to San Diego and a camp called Mountford Point, and they were discrimintated by others if they went off base by to the nearby town Jacksonville.

Ater the war, most of the men had went back to their civilian life. Their performance would be remembered for both by those with whom they served. The nation will remember as well. They recieved a little offical recognition during the war, although those who were wounded in combat recieved the Purple Heart.

Ethnicity: African American

Branch of Service: US Army, 761st Tank Battalion

Contributions: They were the first African Americans tankers who served in France on October 10,1944 as a tank battalion who took over 30 major towns, four major airfields, 461 wheeled vehicles, 34 enemy tanks, and thousands of enemy soldiers.

Discrimination?

Yes. they were segregated because blacks could only be in a unit together, they were also judged that they were not smart enough to be soldiers or even operate a tank.

Recognition/Awards?

the 761st Battalion received 11 silver stars along with 69 bronze stars. Sergeant Ruben Rivers received the medal of honor because he declined medical treatment and evacuation and continued on putting pressure on the enemy positions.

Ethnicity: African-american

Branch: US Marines, pacific curtain

Contributions:

many of these Marines were sent into the battle over the pacific with the Japanese, with some being sent to defense battalions to serve on islands that were already taken over by the U.S, while others were sent to supply companies to support Marine combat troops invading enemy-held islands. Supply company Marines served under enemy fire on islands such as

Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Peleliu.

"Did these Marines face descrimination?"

Yes, for example in the article provided it states "often encountered discrimination if they went off-base to the nearby town of Jacksonville. Jacksonville was a segregated town, and white citizens would harass the black Marines if they strayed from the black section of town. However, if this happened in the presence of white Marines, they would usually step in and stop it."

Awards and Recognition:

The Montford Point Marines received little official recognition during the war, although those wounded in combat received the Purple Heart.

But it is also notable that the performance of the Montford Point Marines and other African Americans in other branches eventually led President Truman to issue Executive Order 9981, which fully desegregated the United States military.

Ethnicity: African Americans

Branch of service: They served in a variety of divisions in the Army

Contribution:

They were buffalo soldiers. They were apart of African American groups

They were served in the European theater

First they would do lower things like unloading ships,then they served in US Army

Supporting war productions, providing them with materials that they need

Jack Thomas, led his squad in an attack against a strongly defended German roadblock, supported by a tank. He lobbed two grenades, wounding several Germans, before picking up the bazooka dropped by the wounded soldier and immobilizing the tank.

many Americans strongly opposed involvement in WWII

Discrimination?

yes They followed a strict segregation policy

Awards:

They were awarded a silver star

Ethnicity- Japanese American

Branch of Service: US Army

Contributions: These men contributed to WWII because they fought in Italy and took part in the vicious fighting around Monte Cassino. In one of their most famous actions, they were ordered to rescue a battalion of the 36th Division (Texas National Guard) that had been surrounded by the Germans. They successfully rescued the men. These men also contributed to the invasion of Southern France and Germany.

Discrimination: These men experienced discrimination because they were Japanese- Americans. They were viewed differently because in the United States at the time Japanese were in internment camps. They were segregated from the white soldiers but they did the same jobs

Recognition/ Awards: The members of my group received 8 major campaigns in Europe, 7 Presidential unit citations, and 9,846 purple hearts. 18,486 individual awards, 20 medals of honors, 52 distinguished service crosses, 1 distinguished service medal, 560 Silver Stars, with 28 Oak Leaf Clusters in lieu of second (for bravery, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 4,000 bronze star medals, 1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters representing second Bronze Star Award to the same soldier. They were the most decorated unit in the entire war.

After the war ended the Japanese were not viewed any better than they were at the beginning of the war because of the events that occurred during the war.

Ethnicity: Japanese

Branch of Service: All six of the US Marine Divisions

Contributions: The Navajo talker fought in the war against Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima and if it wasn't for the Navajos they wouldn't have taken down Iwo Jima. Other people and even some soldiers thought this language would be slow to develop. Their contributions during war however were differentas they used this strategy to spell vital information about the location of the happanese military and US soldiers

Discrimination?

Yes navajo code talkers experiences discrimination before during and afterthe war facing forced assimilation in boarding schools dental of rights like voting and limited access to benefits.

After the war the Navajo code talkers were less accepted they were limited on many things such as boarding schools and also voting rights.

Arleth

Wandre

Ethnicity: White Women

Branch of Service: Not assigned

Contributions: Women served in factories and took over men´s jobs. They provided items for the war. Other people said about the contributions to American Victory in WW2 that they worked during the war but were forced to be housewives again.

Discrimination?

The women did not experience any discrimination because of who they were since the African Americans and white people helped in the war and were in to fight for equality

The effect this group did for the war was tremendous since they were making everything the soldiers needed in order to lead for a victory in the war. I think they were less accepted because they had left their military roles after the war to men and were encouraged to go back to their normal jobs such as mothers.

Branch or service: Navy

Contribution: By freeing up male sailors and officers fro combat duty, performing a wide variety of essential tasks in the Navy and laying groundwork for women's service in the Navy.

Discrimination:

Yes the women were discriminated against because it was harder for women to make it in the navy then men also women weren't able to actually fight in the war.

They were African African Americans Males.

The group was known as the Buffalo Soldiers or Triple nickels, and they were stationed in Arizona.

They performed with bombs and served in the Army.

Units Served: They served in The 82nd Airborne division, and in operation Firefly.

Contributions: They Assisted in winning WW2 by putting out fires caused by Japans bombings, they were important because they put out fires nearby, And it's unique because it was kept secret by the government.

The group never really received recognition because it was kept secret.

Notable Members: There wasn't really much people that were recognized other than some man named James Maurice Gavin, He was the third commanding general of the 82nd airborne division.

People praised his leadership, and his dedication to his men.

The only form of discrimination they received was Segregation.

They didn't really have an effect because they didn't get recognized, they were less accepted because of their race and segregation towards being a part of the war.

Ethnicity: African American

Branch: Marines Corps

Contributions: They helped by delivering supplies like gas, oil, food, and ammo for the war. They drove to places or to the soldiers. Some white soldiers would tell the French that the blacks would have tails.

Discrimination?

The Africans- Americans would faced a lot of discrimination from the United States. In the military it would be worse. Some of the White soldiers would tell the the French people that the Africans- Americans had tails and more stuff like that.

Recognition/Awards:

They did not get recognized. They were often overshadowed by racism and segregation. Some wouldn't receive a medal of honors until years later.

Ethnicity: African Americans

Branch of Service: Air Force, Fighter Pilots, Red Tails

Contributions: On March 24th, 1945, the 332nd flew 1600 miles to the Daimler-Benz Tank work in Berlin. While they were here, they were able to shoot down a German Me-262 Jet Fighter Aircraft. This was a significant help during the war with Germany. On July 12th, they escorted bombers on a mission against railyards, and Capt. Joseph Elsberry shot down three Fw-190s. On July 18th, Lt. Clarence "Lucky" Lester claimed three German airplanes destroyed. It was also a big day for the rest of the group, as they claimed 11 enemies/attackers destroyed.

Discrimination?

Yes. The government and the army did not want the US citizens to discover that the pilots of the 332nd had been African Americans.

Recognition/Awards?

Captain Joseph Elsberry shot down three Fw-190s, and was the first African American to do this. Clarence Lester claimed three German airplanes destroyed and was given a DFC for himself. Lee Archer had the most kills than anyone else in the 332nd, with 4.5 kills. Roscoe C. Brown, Charles Brantly, and Earl Lane each shot down a German Me-262 jet Fighter Aircraft and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for their achievements.

Ethnicity: Primarily White

Branch of Service: Air Force, Avenger Field in Sweetwater Texas

Contributions: The jobs for these women would vary throughout each branch that they had been assigned to. They also flew planes from the factory that they were made, to military bases so that the actual pilots could pick them up. Eventually, they would fly them from the factories over to England to deliver them to the other pilots. They mainly served in the Air Force. They were able to be used in bombing German cities.

Discrimination: They were discriminated against because they were women that would be pilots. Male pilots didn't like this because they saw them as a lower replacement.

Recognition/Awards: After the war had ended, they didn’t really receive any recognition until they finally fought for it. They received limited benefits in 1977, they received discharge certificates in 1979, in 1987 they received WWII Victory Medals, the ones that had served one year had received Theatre Campaign medals and in 2009 President Obama presented them with Congressional Gold Medals. They accepted these medals in the White House on March 10th 2010.

Recognizable Person: Gertrude Tompkins-Silver stands out from the group. SHe was 1 of 126 WASP chosen women to attend Advanced Pursuit School where only the best male pilots trained prior to combat where she learned to pilot fighter planes like the Thunderbolt and Mustang.She had a planned flight from Palm Springs, California to New Jersey but never made it due to communication issues. She was finally announced missing and probably dead by October 30th 1944. They haven’t been able to locate the crash site since that day. They said that she had a stuttering problem. They believed that even after her husband's death she had not fully mourned everything and was still mourning up until her death and on her wedding day. Besides that, they never really accepted the fact that women were pilots during WWII so she received lots of problems with people talking bad about her. Gertude received discrimination because she was a woman pilot and they didn’t really treat her the way that they would treat male pilots. Especially if women in the WASP were married, they were frowned upon so she hid the fact that she was married. She was able to train like other men, except in combat, but other women weren’t as fortunate as she was.

Effect in Society/Military: Women were able to be seen as more help and they were able to actually contribute to the war besides just staying at home and doing all of the light work for the war.They were definitely more accepted after their contribution because before they were looked down upon by, men especially, the military.

Branch of Service: US Marine Corp

Contribution: The Navajo Code Talkers helped the United States fight in World War ll with secret codes. No one was able to decode their messages which led them into more business together. They sent and received over 800 messages , without error.

Discrimination?

Yes. Some people would discriminate against them because of their race. They were often treated unfairly because no one knew how much they were actually helping the US.

Recognition/Awards?

Once the Americans found out what the Navajo Code Talkers did to help them in the war they were praised. Americans had good things to say about them and they eventually won medals for their service.