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Home , Charles Chibitty, Code talker, Edward Gomez, Eileen Collins, Frederick Pang, Ruben Rivers

Multiculturalism in the Armed Forces in the 20th Century Cover:

The nine images on the cover, from left to right and top to bottom, are:

Japanese-American WACs on their way to Japan on a post-war cultural mission. (U.S. Army photo)

African-American aviators in flight suits, Tuskegee Army Air Field, II. (Visual Materials from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Records; from the Library of Congress, Reproduction Number LC-USZ62-35362)

During the visit of Lieutenant General Robert Gray, the Deputy Commander, USAREUR, Private First Class Donya Irby from the 44th Signal Company, out of Mannheim, Germany, describes how the 173 Van gathers, reads, and transmits signals to its destination as part of Operation Joint Endeavor. (Photo by Sergeant Angel Clemons, 55th Signal Company (comcam), Fort Meade, Maryland 20755. Image # 282 960502-A-1972C-003)

U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General Carl E. Mundy poses for a picture with members of the Air Force fire department at Mogadishu Airport, Somalia. General Mundy toured the Restore Hope Theater during the Christmas holiday. (Photo by TSgt Perry Heimer, USAF Combat Camera)

President George Bush takes time to shake hands with the troops and pose for pictures after his speech, January 1993, in Somalia. (Photo by TSgt Dave Mcleod, USAF Combat Camera)

For his heroic actions in the Long Khanh Province in Vietnam, March 1966, Alfred Rascon (center), a medic, received the three decades later. (Photo courtesy of the Army News Service)

Navajo talkers on Bouganville. (U.S. Marine Corps archive photo)

On December 19, 1993, General John M. Shalikashvili, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke at Sword Base with soldiers from the 364th Supply and Service Company during a stop on the Chairman’s tour of UNOSOM II operations in Mogadishu, Somalia. (Combat Camera Image by SSgt L. J. McQueen)

“A gun crew of six Negroes who were given the Navy Cross for standing by their gun when their ship was damaged by enemy attack in the Philippine Area.” Crew members: Jonell Copeland, Que Gant, Harold Clark, Jr., James Eddie Dockery, Alonzo Alexander Swann, and Eli Benjamin. (U.S. National Archives, Control Number NWDNS-80-G-334029) Bibliography:

A variety of sources were used to compile the day-to-day listings in this calendar. The vast resources of the Library of Congress provided the majority of sources. The Internet also was relied upon for part of the research; the list is not inclusive. A selective bibliography of the most useful sources follows:

Bellafaire, Judith A. The Women’s Army Corps: A Commemoration of World War II Service. Washington, DC: US Army Center of Military History, 1993.

Cohen, Jerome D. Jews in American Military History. Washington, DC: Jewish War Veterans of the of America, 1996.

Nalty, Bernard C. Strength for the Fight: A History of Black Americans in the Military. New York: The Free Press, 1986.

Proft, R.J., ed. United States of America’s Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients and Their Official Citations. Columbia Heights, MN: Highland House II, 1994.

Sherrow, Victoria. Women and the Military: An Encyclopedia. Denver: ABC-CLIO, 1996.

Smith, Jessie, ed. Black Heroes of the 20th Century. Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1998.

Swisher, Karen Gyaton, and Ancita Benally, eds. Native North American Firsts. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998.

Unterburger, Amy L., ed. Who’s Who Among the Hispanic Americans, 1994-95. Detroit: Gale Research, 1994.

Unterburger, Amy L., ed. Who’s Who Among the Asian American Community, 1994-95. Detroit: Gale Research, 1994.

Zilboorg, Caroline, ed. Women’s Firsts. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Web Resources: http://www.eeoc.gov/ http://www.korea.army.mil/org/history http://www.usbol.com/Military/ http://www.hanford.gov/doe/hrm/asian/asi.htm#military http://www.chcp.org/Vmemorialday.html http://www.defenselink.mil http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/indianheritage http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/hispanic http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/aah http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/womenshistory http://www.defenselink.mil/medalofhonor http://www.nara.gov http://www.thinkquest.org/library http://www.undelete.org/military/timeline1.html http://www.roa.org http://www.uscg.mil/general.html http://www.dtic.mil Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute: Year 2002 Calendar Multiculturalism in the Armed Forces in the 20th Century

This calendar highlights the diversity and multiculturalism of the United States Uniformed Services in the twentieth century. The calendar identifies minorities who have furthered the advancement of their racial, ethnic, or gender group while also promoting the ideals and protecting the security of the United States of America through their participation in the military services. The recognition of diversity and past accomplishments is complicated, however, by the imprecision of military record keeping. In the past, records have only very inconsistently identified particular individuals as, for example, Hispanic.

Every effort was made to include all minority groups. Emphasis was placed on those minority groups defined by DEOMI in 1996 (African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, and women). The men and women featured in this calendar serve as a small sample of the minorities who heroically served the nation in the twentieth century. From to the Persian Gulf War, and in organizations ranging from the Nurse Corps to the United States Marine Corps, minorities made a dramatic impact. Minorities found the strength to rally in defense of a nation even during times when the established organizations of the nation did not acknowledge the rights, or accept the equality, of the minority groups who were defending those very same organizations. Fortunately, for the sake of the security and future of the United States of America, many minorities followed the philosophy articulated by W.E.B Dubois during World War II, “First your country, then your rights.”

The calendar celebrates, but is not limited to, Medal of Honor recipients, notable firsts, major activities of specific units, official military statements and regulations in regard to minority groups, and milestones for Equal Employment Opportunity laws. In an effort to detail the progress made by minority groups in their struggle to achieve equality within the military Services the compiler has included multiple entries for numerous individuals and units. The reader hence will be able to trace the service of some individuals and units from the time of their segregated training all the way through to major battles that often resulted in the receipt of a military medal.

This calendar was compiled for the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute under an Interagency Agreement with the Federal Research of the Library of Congress. For this edition of the calendar, the compiler relied, in part, on previous research conducted for earlier DEOMI calendars, and would like to credit these works.

Todd Conklin Federal Research Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 2nd Lieutenant Jackie Robinson 761st Tank Battalion

Jackie Robinson was drafted into the in April 1942, and became a second lieutenant in January 1943. He was assigned to the 761st Tank Battalion in 1944. On July 6, 1944, as Robinson was taking a bus from Camp Hood, Texas, to the base hospital to have his ankle examined for bone chips, the driver ordered him to the back of the bus. Robinson refused to move, aware that military regulations barred racial discrimination on any Army post vehicle. Military police were called, and Robinson was charged with being drunk and disorderly. In the ensuing court martial, he was cleared of all charges, and several months later, Robinson was honorably discharged.

Following his discharge, Robinson returned to baseball where he caught the eye of Branch Rickey, the general manager and part owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson signed a contract with the Dodgers in 1947, becoming the first African- Photo: Courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame (National Baseball American baseball player in the major leagues. Library; originally from New York World Telegram) January 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 1969: Japanese-American 1943: Largely Hispanic 1942: Hispanic Elwood R. 1913: Yonosuke Enouye, 1999: MG Jake Lestenkof, Army SSG Rodney James 158 th Infantry Regiment, Quesada, 33d Pursuit one of the first Japanese- Alaska Native of Aleut Tadashi Yano earns U.S. redesignated Arizona Group, AF, promoted to American graduates of U.S. heritage, retires after five years Medal of Honor for National Guard Unit, LtCol, this month; retires as Naval Academy, Class of as Alaska National Guard heroism in Vietnam. departs for southwest LtGen, Cdr, Joint Task 1891, dies. adjutant general, this month. Pacific Theater; referred to Force-3, Joint Technical New Year’s Day as “Bushmasters” for jungle Planning Committee, Joint fighting skills. Chiefs, 1951. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Eppihany 1942: Eleven Navy nurses 1981: Army Flight Nurse 1916: Korean-American 1945: U.S. Forces invade 1959: Mary M. Roberts, 1918: Training begins for (Christian) at Santa Scholastica Reba Whittle, 2LT, 813 th Army LTC Herbert Choy Luzon in the Philippines, Army Nurse Corps, WWI, women recruited into Army become prisoners of the Medical Air Evacuation born this month; becomes this month. writer, historian, and editor Signal Corps. Christmas Japanese after fall of Squad, only U.S. woman first Asian American of American Journal of (Orthodox Christian) Manila, this month. POW in Europe during named to federal court in Nursing, dies. WWII; dies, this month. 1971.

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1997: Seven African- 1946: Department of War 1943: is 1942: Filipino Army SGT 1991: Operation Desert 1945: ENS Phyllis Mae 1905: , American veterans (only press release announces completed. Jose Calugas earns U.S. Storm begins. Dailey becomes Navy’s creator of WAAC, born. one still living) receive request for permanent Medal of Honor for first African-American Medal of Honor for establishment of Women’s heroism in the Philippines nurse, this month. participation in WWII. Army Organization. during World War II. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18-25 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1945: U.S. Navy begins 1915: Filipino-American 1942: President Franklin D. 1922: COL Charles R. 1985: Air Force LtCol 1973: Vietnam Peace 1940: Army BG Sherian Grace allowing African-American Fireman 2d Class Telesforo Roosevelt orders U.S. Navy Young, Army’s highest Ellison Onizuka becomes Accord signed, this month. Cadoria, first African- women to enlist in Navy’s de la Crux Trinidad, USN, and U.S. Marine Corps to ranking African-American 1st Asian-American American woman mililtary Nursing Corps, this month. earns Medal of Honor. enlist soldier, dies while serving in space; flies on police officer and first African- World Religion Day into regular military units, as U.S. military liaison to DoD’s 1st American woman to achieve (Baha’i) Martin Luther King, Jr.’s this month. Nigeria, this month. mission. rank of general officer, born. Birthday Observed 27 28 29 30 31 1961: Air Force Academy 1968: Tet Offensive begins. 1932: Hispanic-American 1991: Melissa Rathburn- 1951: Puerto Rico’s distinguished graduate Army 1st SGT Maximo Nealy, first U.S. enlisted “Borinqueneers” (65th (1982) Joginder Singh Yabes, posthumous Medal woman to become POW Infantry Regiment) begin Dhillon born, this month; of Honor recipient for and first U.S. woman successful three-day assault first Asian American to service in Vietnam, born. military POW since WWII, on Chinese troops just attain that honor. returns to the United States. outside of Seoul. 1st Lieutenant Oscar Perdomo 464th Fighter Squadron, 507th Fighter Group

Becoming an “Ace” in a single day is an honor earned by only a small number of fighter pilots around the world. On top of the singular honor of being an Ace, a status that is achieved upon getting five “kills” within a career, getting five kills in the same day is a rare feat. The distinction of being the person who last achieved this feat for the United States and possibly the last such Ace for World War II is held by 1st Lt Oscar Francis Perdomo of the 464th Fighter Squadron, 507th Fighter Group USAAF, an American pilot of Mexican ancestry. On his tenth and last combat sortie of the war, he achieved the distinction of being the last Ace of the war.

Photo: Courtesy of San Diego Aerospace Museum Accessed through www.elknet.pl/acestory.htm February 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 African-American d 1949: Army’s first Health 1943: Japanese-American 442 History Month Nurse Program established Regimental Combat Team at Fort Devens, MA. activated.

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1995: Air Force LtCol 1997: Army SGT Danyell 1943: African-American 1945: Hispanic-American 1944: LTCs Carrie Sheetz 1945: First and only 1930: Hispanic Angelo D. Eileen Collins becomes E. Wilson becomes first stewards assigned to U.S. Army PVT lst Class and Marjorie Morrow, African-American WACs Juarez, MG, U.S. Army first U.S. woman pilot African-American woman Coast Guard cutter Manuel Perez, Jr. awarded Army Nurse Corps, killed assigned to the 6888 th Reserve, born. astronaut in launch of STS- to walk honor guard at Campbell staff a battle Medal of Honor for actions when 95 th Evacuation Central Postal Directory 63 from Cape Kennedy. Tomb of Unknown station when ship rams and this day at Fort William Hospital, Anzoi, Italy, Battalion, in European Soldiers, Arlington sinks a German , McKinley, Luzon, bombed. Theater. National Cemetery. this month. Philippines. Nirvana Day (Buddism) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1967: Asian-American 1920: Gen Daniel 1944: Charles F. Anderson 1942: President Franklin D. 1944: U.S. Marine Corps 1943: Marcelite J. Harris, U.S. Elmelindo R. Smith, “Chappie” James, born; becomes first African- Roosevelt approves plans to first all African-American Air Force’s first woman aircraft SSG, Army, awarded promoted to four-star rank American Marine promoted Ash Wednesday construct a military road combat unit, 51st Defense maintenance officer and one of Medal of Honor in 1974, becoming highest- to Sgt Maj, this month. (Christian) through and Alaska Battalion, sent to Pacific the first two women “Air posthumously for ranking African American this month; three African- Theater. Officers Commanding” at U.S. actions, this month, in in U.S. Air Force. Lincoln’s Birthday Lent Begins American regiments build a Air Force Academy, born. Vietnam. Shrove Tuesday (Christian) major portion. (Christian) 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 1945: African-American 1943: First class of Army 1942: U.S. War Department 1942: President Franklin D. 1913: First female Georgia 1944: Jack C. Montgomery 1945: Army Nurse Corps drops 761 st Tank Battalion nurses graduate. authorizes first Filipino Roosevelt signs Executive “Tiny” Broadwick tests a becomes first Native color bar against African- completes successful infantry battalion. Order 9066 providing for new parachute called “life American to receive Medal American nurses. two-month participation Washington’s Birthday internment of Japanese boat” for U.S. Army. of Honor; singlehandedly in U.S. counter-offensive Observed Americans, this month. attacked three echelons of Eid-ul-Adha during and after the Battle enemy troops, taking 17 (Islam) of the Bulge. prisoners, this month. 24 25 26 27 28 1943: Filipino-American 1945: U.S. Marines land on 1948: Nancy C. Leftenant, 1943: 1,200 Filipinos 1901: U.S. military MG John R. D’Araujo Jr., Iwo Jima. More than 2 first African American to serving in U.S. Armed establishes first permanent Director, Army National million African Americans become a member of the Forces granted citizenship. role for women when 202 Guard Bureau, born; first volunteer to defend Iwo Regular Army Nurses of the 220 contract nurses Filipino-American major Jima and the Pacific Corps, joins Reserve Corps. on active duty are inducted general to hold position. Theater. Purim into Nurse Corps. (Jewish) Easter Eggs for Hitler

On Easter morning 1945, T/5 William E. Thomas and PFC Joseph Jackson planned to roll specially prepared eggs on Hitler's lawn.

Photo: Courtesy of National Archives, 111-SC-202330 March 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

st Women’s History November 1 is World 1 2 Day of Prayer 1991: Army MAJ Marie T. 1944: U.S. Navy commissions Month (Christian) Rossi killed in helicopter thirteen African Americans as crash in Saudi Arabia, one its first African-American of the first U.S. casualties in officers. Operation Desert Storm. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1931: “Star Spangled 1917: Loretta Walsh enlists 1994: U.S. Navy assigns 1944: Ninety-eight African- 1942: First five African- 1943: African-American 1976: 119 women accepted for Banner” becomes U.S. in Navy and becomes first women aboard a combat American enlisted men American cadets PVT George Watson, Army, admission to U.S. Military national anthem. female Yeoman, this ship, the USS Eisenhower. enter Armored Forces commissioned as U.S. drowns saving others after Academy, Class of 1980; month. School at Fort Knox, KY, Army Air Corps pilots. their ship is sunk, this day; sixty-one graduate. as foundation for 761st earns Medal of Honor Tank Battalion. posthumously; USNS Watson named after him, 1997. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1962: MAJ Anna Maria 1944: Company B, 148th 1965: Raid on North 1933: U.S. Air Force 1947: Philippine naval 1947: John Lee becomes 1942: U.S. Coast Guard Doering becomes first Infantry Regiment, Vietnam begins, this veteran and Senator Ben bases leased to the United first African-American recruits first 150 African- WAC to serve in Vietnam, becomes first African- month. Nighthorse Campbell, born; States. commissioned officer in American volunteers. this month. American Infantry Unit to first Native American to regular Navy, this month. engage in combat during chair Indian Affairs Islamic New Year Rama Krishna Jayanti WWII. Committee. 1st Day of Muharram (Hindu) 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 1944: U.S. Army Air Corps 1945: African-American 1967: Sgt Barbara J. 1944: USS Mason 1948: WWII hero and 1942: MAJ Julia Flikke, 1923: Annie W. Goodrich, first all African-American 332d Army SSG Edward A. Dulinsky, first woman commissioned at champion of Hispanic Superintendent, Army Dean, Army School of Fighter Group sees first Carter, Jr. receives Medal Marine ordered to combat Naval Yard; first ship with Rights, Hector P. Garcia, Nurse Corps, given Nursing, awarded combat. of Honor for extraordinary zone, arrives in Vietnam. predominately African- founds American GI temporary rank of , Distinguished Service Medal. St. Patrick’s Day heroism in action, this American crew. Forum. U.S. Army. (Christian) month near Speyer, Germany. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1972: Equal Employment Birthday of Navy, Army, 1938: Hispanic-American 1942: Benjamin O. Davis, 1962: Troy Devine, first 1943: Final battalion of 5 th 1968: Yzetta L. Nelson Act (1972) passes. and Air Force Medal of Army CPT Euripides Jr. and four second woman captain, Air Force Tank Group, the 784 th , becomes first WAC Honor celebrated as Rubio, born, this month; lieutenants become first U-2 program, born. activated. promoted to new rank st Holy Week National Medal of Honor earns Medal of Honor for five graduates, Tuskegee 1 Day of Passover Good Friday (Christian) of CSM. Palm/Passion Sunday Day (PL 101-64); approved heroism in Vietnam in Flying School. (Jewish) (Christian) November 15, 1990. 1966. 31 1944: Baseball legend Jackie Robinson assigned to 761 st Tank Battalion. Easter (Christian) PFC Guy “Gabby” Gabaldon

On Saipan and Tinian, Mariana Islands, South Pacific, in the summer of 1944, Marine PFC Guy “Gabby” Gabaldon distinguished himself by single-handedly capturing more than 1,000 Japanese. He has the distinction of capturing more enemy soldiers than anyone else in the history of U.S. military conflicts.

A Hispanic American, Gabaldon was adopted by a Japanese- American family, who taught him Japanese. When war broke out with Japan, his “brothers” joined the U.S. Armed Forces, and his adoptive parents and sister were sent to a relocation center. Following his brothers into the Armed Forces, Gabaldon qualified as a mortar crewman, Japanese translator, and scout observer. While serving as a Japanese interpreter on Saipan, he received a for obtaining vital information and capturing more than 1,000 enemy civilians and personnel in the face of direct fire. Working alone in front of the lines, Gabaldon persuaded the weakened Japanese soldiers, who had been commanded to fight to the death, to surrender.

The twice-wounded Gabaldon was evacuated to , and in 1960, a movie, Hell to Eternity, depicting his exploits was released. His Silver Star was elevated to a Navy Cross in December 1960.

Photo: Courtesy of www.ifilm.com April 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 1942: 761 st Tank Battalion 1980: Secretary of Defense 1992: Naval Training 1917: President 1945: Japanese-American 1917: United States enters activated at Camp Claiborne, announces WAAC service Center graduates first five Woodrow Wilson asks PVT 1 st Class Sadao S. WWI. By this date, 200 LA. With six Caucasian considered active military mixed-gender recruit Congress to declare war Munemori earns Medal of women enlisted as Navy officers and thirty African- service, with all Veterans companies. on Germany; 1,400 Honor for heroism this day, in Yeomen; 403 Army nurses American officers, battalion Administration laws African Americans serve Italy; first for Japanese on active duty, including is comprised of 676 enlisted applicable. in WWI. Americans. 170 Reserve nurses. men. Passover ends 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1992: Carol D. Keehner 1942: African-American 1975: Sixty-seven women 1943: Edith Greenwood 1972: Retired Army LTC 1943: Dr. Margaret D. 1904: Hispanic-American becomes Navy’s first woman troops from 91 st and 96 th (fifty-nine civilians and becomes first woman to Gero Iwai dies this Craighill becomes first LtGen Elwood R. Seabee Master Chief, this battalions arrive in Australia eight military) killed in a receive Soldiers Medal, month, earliest and most woman to join the Army Quesada, U.S. Air Force, month. to help with construction of plane crash during this month. senior Japanese American Medical Corps, this month; member of “Question badly needed air fields. Operation Baby Lift, an to serve in military given rank of major. Mark” endurance crew, attempt to rescue children intelligence during World born 1929. Buddha Day (Buddhism) from Saigon. War II. Baisakhi (Sikh & Hindu) Yom HaShoah (Je wish) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2001: Senior Airman 1942: African-American 24th 1943: All laws excluding 1945: Invasion of 1995: Geraldine Pratt, 1945: PVT 1 st Class David M. 1994: Maj Jackie Parker, Jennifer Donaldson becomes Infantry Regiment leaves Fort women from military Okinawa begins this first woman Director of Gonzales, U.S. Army, becomes first female Air first woman graduate, Benning, GA, on way to San Reserves revoked. month. WAF, turns 100. posthumously earns Medal of National Guard pilot. National Guard Sniper Francisco for combat in the Honor for exceptional bravery School’s counter-sniper Pacific Theater. in the Philippines, this month. program. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1945: Racial incident flares 1943: Chinese American 1951: Japanese-American 1998: John B. 1943: 99th Pursuit 1923: MSG Cleto Rodriguez, 1994: Maj Jackie Parker, up in closing months of Dorothy Yang receives her Army Corporal Hiroshi H. Herrington, CDR, U.S. Squadron arrives in U.S. Army, Medal of Honor first woman combat pilot, WWII; members of diploma and wings, Miyamura earns Medal of Navy, becomes first French Morocco for winner for WWII actions Air National Guard, Tuskegee Airmen mutiny in becoming first WASP pilot. Honor for Native-American training. Because of (then PVT), born. graduates from training in protest against discriminatory action, this month. graduate of NASA segregation, African- F-16C Fighting Falcon, policies. training program. American pilots are this month. forced to train themselves.

28 29 30 Holy Week 1975: U.S. Marine Corps 1945: German CIC 1965: U.S. Marines 28 April-5 May MSgt Juan J. Valdez last to Southwest Forces evacuate citizens during Orothodox Christian leave U.S. Embassy in unconditionally surrender to Dominican Republic Vietnam as the war ends, this Italian Allies. revolution. month. Code Talkers

Navajo code talkers took part in every assault the U.S. Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945, transmitting messages by telephone and radio in their native language, a code that the Japanese never broke. Navajo answered the military requirement for an undecipherable code because it is an unwritten language of extreme complexity. Its syntax and tonal qualities, plus its dialects, make it unintelligible to anyone without extensive exposure and training. In May 1942, the first 29 Navajo recruits attended boot camp, and later at Camp Pendleton, California, created the Navajo code. Once a Navajo completed his training, he was sent to a Marine unit deployed in the Pacific Theater. The code talkers' primary job was to talk, transmitting information on tactics and troop movements, orders, and other vital battlefield communications over telephones and radios. At Iwo Jima, Major Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal officer, declared, "Were it not for the , the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima." Connor had six Navajo code talkers working around the clock during the first two days of the battle. They sent and received more than 800 messages, all without error. The Japanese, who were skilled code breakers, remained baffled by the . In 1942, there were about 50,000 Navajo tribe members. As of 1945, about 540 Navajos had served as Marines; from 375 to 420 of these Marines had trained as code talkers. Photo: Courtesy of www.defenselink.mil/specials/indianheritage May 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 Asian-Pacific 1942: Benjamin O. Davis, 1976: BG Hazel W. 1943: Federal government 1977: Army Board for Heritage Month Jr. transfers to Army Air Johnson-Brown becomes bars all war contractors Correction of Military Corps, this month; son of first woman in U.S. Army from discriminating on Records restores Medal of Army’s first African- to earn Master of Military basis of race, this month. Honor to Dr. Mary E. American general; also Art and Science Degree, Walker, first female recipient advanced to general in Army Command and of the award. December 1998. General Staff College, this Beltane (Wicca) month. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1939: Committee for the 1993: President William J. 1942: One day after 1945: United States 1995: BrigGen Marcelite 1950: First direct Army 1982: Army announces Participation of Negroes in Clinton praises surrender of General celebrates V-E Day as Harris, USAF, promoted to commissions offered to return to separate basic National Defense formed. contributions of Asian Jonathan M. Wainwright Germany’s unconditional MajGen this month; first women college graduates, training for men and women, Americans in U.S. military IV’s troops in the surrender is signed. African-American woman this month. this month. Easter (Orthodox at Asian-Pacific Islander Philippines, all remaining to attain this rank. Christian) Month ceremony at the U.S. nurses are taken Ascension of Jesus White House, this month. prisoner. (Christian) 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1976: 2Lt Kathleen A. 1908: U.S. Navy Nurse 1944: Asian-American 1942: President Franklin D. 1910: Horacio Rivero, first 1978: First women, one 1953: , Rambo becomes first Air Corps established. U.S. Army SSG Rudolph Roosevelt signs act creating Hispanic four-star Navy from each of the five founder and director of the Force Reservist selected for B. Davila, 7th Infantry, Women’s Auxiliary Corps. admiral, born, this month. Armed Services, debut as WASP, becomes first woman undergraduate pilot training awarded Medal of Honor 1997: U.S. Air Force LtCol members of the White to pilot an aircraft program, this month. for actions this month at Eileen Collins pilots Space House Honor Guard. supersonically. Artena, Italy. Shuttle, STS-84. Shavuot (Jewish) Mother’s Day 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1942: Coast Guard begins 1943: Photojournalist 1979: Antonia H. Chayes, 1917: Army nurses Edith 1944: Van Barfoot becomes 1974: U.S. Congress 1973: Women’s participation accepting African Gordon A. Parks, Sr. Assistant Secretary of the Ayers and Helen Wood one of the first of five reduces minimum age for in Army ROTC programs at Americans to serve in becomes first African Air Force and then highest- killed during accidental Native Americans to win enlisted women to that for all colleges authorized. capacities other than American to work for U.S. ranking woman in the explosion aboard USS Medal of Honor by men, effective April 1, messman. Office of War Information. Pentagon, granted first Mongolia . knocking out two machine 1976. Pentecost (Whitsunday) official Air Force WASP gun nests and capturing 17 Mawlid an-Nabi (Islam) (Christian) discharge. Germans in Rome. 26 27 28 29 30 31 1975: U.S. House of 1942: African-American 1942: Congresswoman 1962: Army Surgeon 1992: Marianne 1987: Hoang Nhu Tran, Representatives votes to Mess Attendant 2d Class Edith Nurse Rogers Eleanor Ardel Vietti Mathewson-Chapman, former Vietnamese admit women to service Doris “Dorie” Miller introduces bill HR 4906 to captured at Leprosarium in becomes chief nurse, HQ & boatperson, graduates academies. receives Navy Cross for establish WAAC. Ban Me Thuot; still listed HQ Detachment, State Area valedictorian in his Air Buddha Day-Visakha service during Pearl Harbor as a POW. Command, Florida Army Force Academy class. Puja (Buddhist) attack. National Guard, this month; first woman MG, Army Memorial Day National Guard, 2000. Ob d Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye 2nd Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team

During White House ceremonies on June 21, 2000, 21 Asian-American World War II veterans had their Distinguished Services Crosses upgraded to Medals of Honor. Seven of the 21 recipients are still living. Nineteen of the 21 veterans were members of the all-Japanese 100th Infantry Battalion, or 442nd Regimental Combat Team, for their size, they were among the most highly decorated units in U.S. military history. Some 33,000 Asian-American troops formed the 442nd Regiment, which fought in eight major campaigns in Italy, , and Germany.

In awarding the medals, President Clinton noted that the servicemen, many of whom volunteered for service directly from the internment camps where they had been sent following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, “did not give up on their country when too many of their countrymen gave up on them.” Photo: Courtesy of Senator Daniel K. Inouye June 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 1961: LTC Nora G. Springfield becomes first woman officer detailed to Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps since WWII. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1917: U.S. military ship 1942: U.S. Military 1942: Dr. Elizabeth Reynard, 1963: Directive from 1944: D-Day landings on 1904: Japanese-American 1965: U.S. Forces dispatched to France this Intelligence Service Special Assistant to Chief, Secretary of Defense, Normandy begin. African- Kiro Kunitomo dies; one of authorized to go into combat month includes more than Language School adds Bureau of Naval Personnel, Robert McNamara, bans American 320th Anti- the first Asian graduates of in South Vietnam. 400 African-American Japanese-American asks Smith College president racial discrimination on all Aircraft Barrage Balloon U.S. Naval Academy (Class stevedores and instructors, this month. to avail its facilities to the U.S. military bases, this Battalion participates in the of 1877). longshoremen. Navy in order to train women, month. invasion. this month. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1994: Navy’s annual 1963: Equal Pay Act (1963) 1909: Wen Ying-hsing and 1972: Junior ROTC 1918: All African-American 1945: COL Florence A. 2000: Twenty-two WWII aviation screening board passes, prohibiting wage Chen Ting-Chia graduate as authorized for high school 92nd “Buffalo” Division, Blanchfield, Chief, Army Asian-American and reports five of seventeen differentials based on gender foreign students from U.S. girls. arrives in France, this Nurse Corps, awarded American-Pacific Islander women eligible are selected, for the same jobs: “Equal Military Academy. month. Distinguished Service Medal of Honor winners highest number ever for the pay for equal work.” Medal for leadership of inducted into Pentagon’s Navy. Corps during WWII. Hall of Heroes, this month. Martydom of Guru Arjan (Sikh) Flag Day 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1899: Benjamin O. Davis, 1973: Jeanne M. Holm 1945: 201 st Mexican Fighter 1944: SSgt Timerlate Kirven 1944: U.S. House of 1993: LtCol Patricia Fornes 1999: Asian-American Sr., first African-American becomes first woman in the Division arrives in northern and Cpl Samuel J. Love, Sr., Representatives rejects becomes first woman to Army General Eric K. general officer, Regular Air Force promoted to Luzon to support U.S. ground only African Americans legislation that would have command operation combat Shinseki assumes duties as Army and U.S. Armed MajGen. troops. decorated by 2d Marine militarized the WASP, this squadron upon taking over 34th Army Chief of Staff. Forces, enlists as PVT, Division, receive Purple month. 740 th Missile Squadron, Troop I, 9 th Cavalry. Heart, this month. Minot AFB, ND. Midsummer (Wicca) Father’s Day 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1949: Hispanic American 1920: Congress passes 1998: Rabbi Aaron Landes 1944: Japanese-American 1950: Thirteen platoons of 1981: Hispanic-American 1926: Congress passes GI Emilio A. de la Garza, Jr., National Defense Act this honored this month for Army PVT 1st Class Kiyoshi Marine Corps Women’s Army SGM Gerard Fiancees Act, enabling Medal of Honor recipient month, downsizing Army to serving thirty-six years as a Muranaga earns Medal of Reserves mobilize for Rodriguez retires this women or men engaged to and Marine Corps LCpl, 300,000 personnel. All four Navy chaplain, only rabbi to Honor posthumously for “involuntary service” for month; believed last of U.S. service members to born. longstanding African- hold rank of RADM. heroism. Korean War, this month. “Merrill’s Marauders” to immigrate to United States. Pentecost (Orthodox American units survive leave active duty. Christian) cutbacks. June 30 th is Oharai 30 (Shinto) 1975: Secretary of Defense ends involuntary discharge of pregnant women. Captain Jose R. Corpus, U.S. Navy

Captain Jose R. Corpus, Chief of Staff at Submarine Group Seven in Yokosuka, Japan, was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for the year 2000 by the Washington, D.C.-based Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC). Corpus is the highest- ranking U.S. Filipino-American naval officer. Corpus said, “My life in the U.S. Navy has seen the encouragement of multiple cultures, the reflection of America itself and the fact that as you look at the Navy today, you see the faces of many Asian minorities.”

Photo and information: Courtesy of www.defenselink.mil/specials/ July 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 1964: Civil Rights Act 1929: Army SGT Henry 1943: First Filipino 2001: President George W. 1998: Latino Ana Maria 1990: Women Marines (1964) passes, prohibiting Johnson, one of the first Infantry Battalion sent to Bush presents four of Salazar named Deputy Association national employment discrimination Americans to receive the Pacific Theater. original twenty-nine Navajo Assistant Secretary of convention in Denver based on race, color, sex, France’s Croix de Guerre, Code Talkers with Defense for Drug celebrates 30 th anniversary national origin, and religion. dies. 1998: Hispanic Congressional Gold Medal, Enforcement, Policy, and of women Marines, this American Louis Caldera this month. Support, this month. month. becomes 17th Secretary of the Army. Independence Day 8 9 10 11 12 13 7 1948: Sgt Esther M. Blake 1944: Capt Michael Brezas 1943: First full-blooded 1961: Army nurses assist in 1944: Army 2LT Jackie 1965: Hispanic-American 1944: PC 1264 becomes first woman in the becomes an Air Force Ace Native-American woman relief operations following Robinson, member, 761st Army SGT 1st Class Issac commissioned, first Air Force when she enlists this month after shooting in Marine Corps, Pvt the crash of United Airlines Tank Battalion, court Camacho, escapes after 20 with an at Fort McPherson, GA. down his 12 th plane within Minnie Spotted-Wolf, Flights 759 near Denver, martialed, this month; later months as a POW in Vietnam, all African-American two months. enlists this month. CO. acquitted, then honorably this month; later awarded crew. discharged. Later breaks Silver Star and Bronze Star. “color line” in baseball. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1944: 1st WAC 1942: U.S. Army prohibits 1946: Japanese-American 1996: VADM Patricia 1998: “Spirit of Freedom 1993: Japanese-American 1948: Executive Order 9981 contingent arrives in African-American soldiers 442d “Go for Broke” Tracey , first and only Memorial” unveiled in SGT Roy H. Matsumoto signed by President Harry Normandy. from participating in the Regimental Combat Team woman in U.S. Navy to Washington, D.C.; honors inducted into U.S. Army Truman, this month, Bastille Day victory parade receives Presidential achieve VADM rank, African-American troops Ranger Hall of Fame, integrating the Armed held in Paris, this month. Distinguished Unit Citation becomes Chief, Naval who served during the Civil honored for extraordinary Services. from President Harry Education and Training, War. courage and service with Truman. and Director of Training, Tisha B’av (Jewish) “Merrill’s Marauders.” this month. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1998: Mary-Agnes 1993: General Roscoe 1944: SS E.A. Bryan and SS 1999: Air Force Col 1941:African-American 1990: Americans with 1918: This month, Nurse Brown Groover, Veterans Robinson, Jr., Army’s first Quinalt Victory explode this Eileen Collins becomes Army BG Benjamin O. Disabilities Act of 1990 Corps is renamed Army Administration lawyer African-American, four-star month during loading of first woman commander Davis, Sr., retires, this passes, prohibiting Nurse Corps; pay is who headed WAC in general, dies. ammunition in Port of a space shuttle, STS- month; recalled to active employment discrimination increased to $60 per month. South Pacific during Chicago, CA, killing 320 93, this month. duty with rank of BG based on mental or physical WWII, dies, this month. sailors; two-thirds are Pioneer Day (Mormon) August 1. disabilities. African Americans. 28 29 30 31 2001: North American 1991: U.S. Senate votes this 1942: President Franklin D. 1942: First forty African- Iroquois Veterans month to allow women to Roosevelt signs legislation American women recruits Association holds fly combat missions. creating the Women begin attending first “summer pow wow” in Accepted for Voluntary WAAC officer training Salamanca, New York, Emergency Service at Fort Des Moines, IA. this month. (WAVES). The Borinqueneers

In August 1950, less than two months into the Korean War, Puerto Rico’s 65th National Guard Infantry Regiment, the “Borinqueneers,” was sent to the combat zone. Landing at the port city of Pusan on the Korean Peninsula’s southern tip, where United States forces had been holding a perimeter against the communist North Korean invaders, the Puerto Rican Regiment took part in the United States breakout and drive to the north. Five months later, in late January 1951, the Borinqueneers were positioned south of the Korean capital of Seoul, under orders to take two hills being held by China’s 149th Division. The successful assault took three days.

During their service in Korea, the men of the 65th Infantry won four Distinguished Service Crosses and 125 Silver Stars. The Borinqueneers were also awarded the Presidential and Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Korean Presidential Unit Courtesy of www.army.mil/cmh -pg/topic/hisp/Bor.jpg Citations, and the Greek Gold Medal for Bravery. August 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 1973: Discharge-on- 1990: United Nations forces 1942: Montford Point marriage rule for enlisted begin to form for Operation Marines, first African- women and officers ends. Desert Storm: 26,000 American Marines, women participate, thirteen segregated from Camp die, and two become Lejeune, NC, begin their POWs. training, this month. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2000: National 1964: Hispanic-American 1951: DACOWITS 1959: U.S. Congress 1988: President Ronald 1956: First foreign women 2001: Air Force BrigGen Association of Black U.S. Navy pilot, LTJG established to interpret the authorizes PL 86-142, Reagan signs new officers (six from Burma) Carol C. Elliott, Vice Military Women Everett Alvarez, Jr. shot public role of women in the granting women who Japanese-American enter WAC Officer Basic Commander, Air (NABMW) Reunion down in Gulf of Tonkin, Armed Services and to served after September 30, compensation law this Class, this month. Intelligence Agency, Kelly 2000 held in Chicago, Vietnam; released from promote service careers. 1943, military credit for month for repayment of AFB, TX, retires, this this month. POW camp in 1973. WAAC service. damages to Japanese month. Americans during WWII. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1943: All Japanese- 1918: Opha Mae Johnson 1941: Ground broken on 1952: Filipino-American 1932: Hispanic-American 1995: Oveta Culp Hobby, 1908: Esther Voorhees American 442d becomes first of 305 Huntsville Arsenal, this Army SGT LeRoy A. Edward Gomez, Medal of Director, WAC during Hasson becomes first Regimental Combat women accepted for duty in month. Factory will employ Mendonca posthumously Honor recipient and Marine WWII, dies. Superintendent, U.S. Navy Team departs for Marine Corps Reserve. more than 6,000 civilians awarded Medal of Honor Corps Pvt (Korean War), Nurse Corps, this month. Europe. during the war; 25 percent for gallantry in repulsing born, this month. are African American. the enemy on July 4, 1951, in Chichon, Korea. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1943: U.S. Army 1945: Asian American MG 1945: Japan surrenders this 1943: Harriet M. West 1968: Army LTC Annie 1976: Ten WACS assigned 1959: Former Army CPT, formally rejects creation Eugene S. Imai, Deputy month, ending WWII. becomes first African- Ruth Graham, veteran of to U.S. Military Academy Japanese American Daniel of volunteer integrated Commander, Army Pacific American woman major in both WWII and Korea, dies, staff and faculty. K. Inouye, wins election to division proposed after National Guard Bureau, WAC. this month. U.S. House of attack on Pearl Harbor born. Representatives as new by several African- state of 's first American newpaper Congressman. editors, this month. 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1950: All-Hispanic 65th 1920: 19th Amendment to 1918: France’s liaison to 1944: Red Ball Express, a 1918: Secretary of the 1944: Navy Secretary 1942: One hundred twenty Infantry Regiment, U.S. Constitution ratified; U.S. Expeditionary Air crucial supply effort Navy James V. Forrestal approves women officers, nicknamed the women gain right to vote. Force issues “secret” stretching across Europe approves acceptance of up to 10 percent of the commissioned directly as “Borinqueneers,” leaves 1942: Howard P. Perry memorandum this month on with African Americans as women into the U.S. Navy crews assigned to twenty- ENS or LTJG, reported to for Korea from Puerto becomes first African how to treat African- 75 percent of all drivers, and Marine Corps, this five auxiliary ships be “USS Northampton”-Smith Rico. American to report to American troops, begins operations this month. African Americans. College, this month. Montford Point Marine suggesting they remain month. Shree Krishna Jayanti training camp. segregated. (Hundi) Women in the Army Air Force

In September 1942, the Army Air Force (AAF) created the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), later named the Women Air Force Service Pilots, and appointed Nancy H. Love its commander. The highly skilled female pilots recruited by Love were sent on noncombat missions ferrying planes between factories and AAF installations. The Air Force also set up a Women’s Flying Training Detachment, and eventually more than 1,000 women completed flight training. The women were considered Civil Service employees of the AAFS WAFS/WASP.

Because of their civil-service status, the 38 WASPs who died in the line of duty during World War II were buried without military honors. Among these 38 WASPs was Hazel Ying Lee, a Chinese-American pilot, who flew fighter aircraft from production factories to airbases throughout the United States. Ying Lee died in a midair collision in 1944. The WASPs successfully campaigned for military status, and in 1977 Congress designated the WASPs as veterans of World War II. In 1979, the Air Force granted them official military acceptance, and in 1984 each WASP was awarded the Victory Medal. Those who had served for more than one year were also awarded the American Theater Medal.

Hazel Ying Lee Photo: Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Museum September 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1939: WWII begins as 1993: William Shao Chang 1942: Nancy Harkness 1943: All Japanese- 1992: BrigGen Ravindra F. 1952: Hispanic-American 1924: Daniel K. Inouye, first Germany invades Poland. Chen, U.S. Army, first Love organizes twenty-five American 442d Regimental Shah, M.D., born in India, Army CPL Benito Martinez Japanese American elected Chinese-American MG, women pilots into WAFS, Combat Team lands at appointed state air surgeon, earns Medal of Honor to U.S. Senate, born. retires, this month. this month. Salerno, Italy. New York Air National posthumously for Guard, this month. conspicuous gallantry and Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) Labor Day outstanding courage during Korean War, this date. 8 9 10 13 12 13 14 1997: Design concept 1918: W.E.B. DuBois, in 1917: Emmett J. Scott, 1918: All African- 1934: MG John Liu Fugh 1977: 1,500 U.S. Armed 1940: African-American unveiled this month for “Close Ranks” editorial this former assistant to Booker American 809th Pioneer born; first Chinese Forces women participate leaders meet Secretary of the National Japanese month, encourages African T. Washington, appointed Infantry arrives in France, American to obtain general in NATO exercises for first Navy this month to present American Memorial in Americans to support the Special Assistant to the this month. officer rank in U.S. Army. time, this month. seven-point program for Washington, D.C. to honor war effort declaring: “first U.S. Secretary of War, this mobilizing African patriotism of all Japanese your country, then your month. Americans. Americans during World rights.” War II. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1950: Hispanic-American 1940: Selective Training & 1914: VFW Ladies 1998: National POW/MIA 1985: U.S. House of 1941: CPT Benjamin O. 1989: General Colin Powell, Marine Corps 1stLt Service Act signed, first Auxiliary organized. 1949: Recognition Day Representatives approves Davis, Sr. becomes first confirmed by U.S. Senate, Baldomero Lopez receives peacetime draft; includes Annie E. Graham and Anne proclaimed. HR 1378, this month; African American to becomes first African- Medal of Honor anti-discrimination clause E. Lamb, first African- grants Federal land for officially complete a solo American Chairman, Joint posthumously, this month, and mandatory 10 percent American women to enlist memorial to women in flight as officer of the U.S. Chiefs of Staff. for service during Korean quota system to ensure in Marines, this month. military service. Army Air Corps, this Sukkot (Jewish) War. integration. month. Yom Kippur (Jewish) 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1965: Executive Order 1977: USCG Morganthau 1911: Filipine Scout PVT 1991: RADM Mariann 1973: Rehabilitation Act 1945: United States 1943: All African-American 11246 issued, this month; becomes first cutter to Jose B. Nisperos earns Stratton becomes Director, (1973) passes, prohibiting celebrates V-J Day this 761 st Tank Battalion moves requires non-discrimination operate with women Medal of Honor for Navy Nurse Corps, and employment discrimination month; Japan signs formal to , TX for policies for all employers assigned as permanent heroism in the Philippines, Assistant Chief of against disabled persons surrender. advanced armored training, contracting with Federal crew. this day. Personnel Management in employed by the Federal this month. government. Navy Medicine, this month. government. Simchat Torah (Jewish) 29 30 1942: Army Air Force 1993: Polish-born General approves the WFTD John M.D. Shalikashvili program to train women to appointed Chairman, Joint serve as ferrying pilots, this Chiefs of Staff. month. 51st Composite Defense Battalion

Photo: Courtesy of National Archives

On June 25, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, establishing the Fair Employment Practice Commission, which prohibited racial discrimination by any government agency. The Executive Order gave African Americans the right for the first time to become U.S. Marines.

On August 18, 1942, Headquarters and Service Battery of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion was activated at Montford Point, near Jacksonville, North Carolina. The first African-American recruit to arrive at the camp was Howard P. Perry of Charlotte, North Carolina, who arrived August 26th and was later joined by 119 recruits. From July 1942 through the end of the war, 20,000 African Americans were trained at Montford Point and inducted into the Marine Corps. October 2002

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Hispanic Heritage 1 2 3 4 5 1985: Hispanic-American 1918: “Lost Battalion,” 1977: First combined male 1940: War Department 1944: Army 2LT Frances Month Air Force BrigGen 308 th Infantry, trapped in and female Army Signal establishes quota for Slanger killed by shell (15 Sep-15 Oct) Carmelita Vigil- Argonne Forest, early this Corps training begins at enlisting African fragments after stating in Schimmenti becomes first month. , GA. Americans based on Stars and Stripes, “Sure we National Disability Hispanic woman in military percentage of their numbers rough it, but compared to to attain rank of general. in the general population. the way you men are taking Month it we can’t complain.” 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1959: Chinese-American 1941: Secretary of the 1940: Puerto Rico National 1944: African-American 1965: SGM Florence G. 1994: Chinese American 1944: U.S. Marine Corps 2d Vietnam Veterans Navy reiterates Guard called into Federal Army PVT Ernest A. Munson honored by Frederick Pang is sworn in all African-American Memorial designer Maya Navy’s official policy of Active Service. Jenkins receives Silver having the headquarters and as Assistant Secretary of combat unit, 52d Defense Ying Lin, born. enlisting African Star for “conspicuous WAC class buildings Defense for Force Battalion, arrives in the World Communion Americans primarily in the gallantry" during liberation named for her at Fort Management Policy. Pacific. Sunday (Christian) non-White Steward’s of Chateaudun, France. McClellan, AL. branch. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1978: Civil Service Act 1917: 639 African 1942: U.S. Army 1940: African-American 1994: Navy LT Kara S. 1946: 8000 th WAC 1944: Japanese-American (1978) passes, prohibiting Americans graduate from reactivates all African- physician Dr. Charles Hultgreen, first woman to Detachment arrives to serve Army PVT Barney discriminatory personnel officer training school and American 92 d Infantry Richard Drew pioneers a qualify in combat -ready F- in Occupied Japan this F.Hajiro, 442d Regimental practices. are commissioned at Fort Division at Fort McClellan, system for storing plasma, 14 Tomcat, dies; engine month. Combat Team, receives Dodge, IA. AL. this month; process saves malfunctions approaching Medal of Honor for actions, countless lives during deck of USS Abraham this month. Columbus Day Observed WWII. Lincoln, this month. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1978: President Jimmy 1942: Hugh Mulzac 1944: African-American 1928: Samoan-American 1945: 555 th Parachute 1940: President Roosevelt 1997: Women in Military Carter signs bill abolishing becomes first African crew of USS Mason Medal of Honor recipient Infantry Battalion promotes Benjamin O. Service For America WAC. American to captain a U.S. overcome extreme weather Army PVT First Class transferred this month from Davis, Sr. to rank of BG. Memorial dedicated, this Birth of the Bab (Baha’i) Merchant Marine ship, this conditions to rescue Herbert K. Pililaau born, Camp MacHall Army Air month. month. numerous vessels off the this month. Field, NC, to Fort Bragg, coast of England, this NC, where it was attached month. to 82d Airborne Division. 27 28 29 30 31 1948: First eight women on 1944: Japanese-American 1918: Ralph Waldo Tyler, 1984: U.S. Congress grants 1917: U.S. Army active duty are sworn in as Army Tech 5 th Grade James reporter and government a Federal Charter to WAC commissions 639 African- commissio ned officers in K. Okubo, 442d Regimen- official becomes first and Veterans Association under American officers trained at the regular Navy, this tal Combat Team, receives only official African- Federal Law 98-584. an all Black facility in Fort month. Medal of Honor for actions American WWI Des Moines, IA. Reformation Sunday in France, this and correspondent. All Hallows Eve (Protestant Christian) following day, and in (Christian) Samhain November. (Wicca) Rear Admiral Lillian Fishburne, U.S. Navy

Rear Admiral Lillian Fishburne was born March 25, 1949, into a Navy family. She was commissioned an ensign after completing Women Officers School at Newport, Rhode Island, in February 1973, and was assigned to the Naval Air Test Facility in Lakehurst, . During her career, Fishburne assumed progressively more responsible positions. After graduating from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1993, she was assigned to the Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems Directorate, Joint Staff, and became Chief, Command, and Control Systems Support Division, the following year. Fishburne was promoted to Rear Admiral on February 1, 1998, the first female African American to attain that rank. At a brown bag luncheon with students and faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School in July 2000, Admiral Fishburne said, in response to a career-related question, “Have faith! You will get there!” She retired as Deputy Director and Fleet Liaison, Information Space Warfare Command and

Photo: Courtesy of Department of Defense Control, Chief of Naval Operations, February 2001. November 2002

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st Native -American November 1 is 1 2 All S aints Day 1943: Army PVT Mikio 1988: Minority Officers History Month (Christian) Hasemoto, 100th Infantry Association holds first Battalion, receives meeting; association is posthumous Medal of dedicated to improving Honor for actions this minority and female officer month at Cerasuolo, Italy. recruiting and status. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1948: First female U.S. 1943: WAC members 1950: Army CPL Mitchell 1940: African-American 1944: 442d Regimental 1944: African-American 1918: Army PVT David Army officer not in medical become eligible for GI Red Cloud, Jr., earns Medal Judge William H. Hastie Combat Team rescues 211 Army SSG Ruben Rivers Barkley posthumously corps sworn in. insurance this month. 1977: of Honor posthumously for becomes civilian aide to survivors of 36th (“Texas”) posthumously (1997) (1989) receives Medal of PL 95-202 passes, giving actions in Korea, this the Secretary of War, this Infantry Division’s “Lost awarded Medal of Honor Honor for risking life above WASPs veteran status. month. month; later resigns Battalion” in France this for extraordinary heroism and beyond call of duty this because of continuing month; 200 killed and 600 in action, this month in day; becomes first Hispanic Diwali (Hindu) discrimination. wounded. Guebling, France. Medal of Honor recipient. 1st Day of Ramadan (Islam) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1944: Elizabeth B. Murphy 1944: 92d Infantry Division 1939: William Shao Chang 1918: Following a flu 1918: Illinois’ all African- 1994: Certificate of 1945: U.S. Marine Corps Moss becomes first (“Black Buffaloes”) mortar Chen born, this month; epidemic, Army Nurses American 370th Infantry Appreciation awarded to all 1stLt Frederick C. Branch African-American woman company wipes out enemy becomes first Chinese Corps accepts eighteen Regiment wins twenty-one African-American 366 th becomes first commissioned certified as a war machinegun emplacements American appointed major African-American nurses U.S. Dist inguished Crosses Regiment’s Veterans African-American officer, correspondent for WWII, during U.S. Army’s Italian general in U.S. Army. on “experimental” basis. and sixty-eight French Croix Association on 50 th this month. this month. campaign, this month. Birth of Baha’u’llah Less than one year later, de Guerre for service during anniversary of end of . (Baha’i) all eighteen nurses are WWI. WWII. Veterans Day terminated. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 1918: The all Black 369 th 1944: Asian American 1956: Hispanic American 1977: Evelyn P. Foote 1952: Native American 1989: President George H. 1942: Coast Guard Woman’s Infantry Regiment, PFC Joe M. Nishimoto, Edward D. Bacca enlists in becomes Commander, 2 d Army PVT 1st Class Charles Bush signs Joint Resolution Auxiliary (SPARS) “Harlem Hellfighters,” are 442d Regimental Combat New Mexico National Basic Training Battalion, George earns Medal of of Congress authorizing authorized. first Americans to reach Team, awarded Medal of Guard; later becomes Fort McClellan, AL, this Honor posthumously (1954) Vietnam Women’s combat zone in France and Honor posthumously for general. month; retires as BG, for smothering a grenade Memorial Project. to cross Rhine River. actions this month at La Birthday of Guru Nanak 1989. with his body in Korean Houssiere, France. Dev Sahib (Sikh) War, this month. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1946: 8225 th WAC 1943: Pearl Harbor hero 1991: Civil Rights Act 1901: Army War College 1950: Hispanic American 1944: 761 st Tank Battalion 1999: Battalion arrives for service Doris Miller dies when his (1991) passes, providing authorized. Pvt Hector A. Cafferata, Jr., becomes first African- honored as last surviving with Far East Command in vessel is sunk by a Japanese for recovery of and U.S. Marine Corps, earns American armored unit to Army Commanche “Code Tokyo. . A destroyer vessel compensatory and punitive Medal of Honor for service enter combat during Talker.” is later named in his honor. damages under Americans in Korean War, this month. assaults on French towns. with Disabilities Act. 1st Day of Hanukkah Thanksgiving Day (Jewish) Corporal Carlton Chapman Motor Transport Unit, 761st Mountain Battalion

In 1941, some nine months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 98 African-American enlisted men were assigned to the Armored Forces School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the first time that African Americans had been posted to an armored section of the U.S. Army. The number of African Americans at the school increased rapidly, and in June 1941, the African- American 758th Tank Battalion (light) was formed. In October 1942, the unit was designated the 761st Tank Battalion. The 761st was sent to Europe in 1944, arriving in Normandy in October 1944. At General Patton’s request, the 761st was assigned to the 26th Infantry Division, XII Corps, in General Patton’s 3rd Army.

Photo: Courtesy of National Archives (111-SC-196106-S) December 2002

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1943: All African- 2000: Construction of 1941: Five Navy nurses on 1906: , 1993:Public Law 103-163 1958: Army MAJ Nancy 1941: 1LT Annie G. Fox, American 555th Parachute Army Women's Museum, Guam taken prisoner by the COBOL pioneer and first authorizing Air Force Currie, space shuttle Army Nurse Corps, Infantry Company, begins Fort Lee, VA, completed; Japanese, this month. woman RADM, U.S. Navy, Memorial signed by astronaut, born, this month. receives for airborne training at Fort move of artifacts, files, and born, this month. President William J. service at Pearl Harbor; Benning, GA, this month. equipment finished; Clinton, this month. Eid ul Fitri (Islam) first woman to receive First Sunday of Advent dedicated May 2001. medal as result of combat. (Christian) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1941: U.S. Navy messman 1944: U.S. Army assigns 1975: Army authorizes 1942: Willa B. Brown 1980: Defense Officer 1997: RADM Marsha J. 1950: Anna M. Rosenberg Doris Miller helps move his the all Black 24 th Infantry admission of women to becomes first African- Personnel Management Act Evans, first female confirmed as Assistant mortally wounded to Saipan and Tinian to Army OCS training, Fort American woman enacted, placing women in Superintendent, Naval Secretary of Defense for commander to shelter, then “clean out” pockets of Benning, GA, this month. commissioned as a CAP all Service branches on the Postgraduate School, Manpower and Personnel. mans a machinegun on the Japanese resistance. (Civil Air Patrol) same promotion lists as relinquishes command, this USS Arizona. lieutenant, this month. men. month. Bodhi Day (Buddhism) 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1943: First Chinese- 1936: Carmelita 1943: President Franklin D. 1948: One hundred and 1980: ENS Brenda 1999: MG Edward 1952: Pamela Davis American officer in U.S. Schemmenti, BrigGen, U.S. Roosevelt signs repeal of ninety-nine WAC officers Robinson becomes first Richardson, Chinese- Dorman, first woman Navy Marine Corps, Wilbur Carl Air Force, born. Chinese Exclusion Act; appointed to regular Army. African-American female American adjutant general, Chaplain to serve in U.S. Sze, commissioned as soon thereafter 14,000 aviator, U.S. Navy, Hawaiian National Guard, Marine Corps, born. 2ndLt. Chinese Americans drafted assigned to Fleet Logistics retires, this month. into Armed Forces. Squadron, Norfolk, VA, Yule (Wicca) this month. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1987: President Ronald 1940: Kansas National 1967: Age Discrimination 1990: Navy LCDR 1945: African-American 1944: U.S. War Department 1977: Army Combat Reagan signs American Guard Troop C, 114th Act (1967) passes, Darlene M. Iskra installed Army 1LT John R. Fox ends internment of Exclusion Policy enacted Homecoming Act allowing Cavalry, only all Native- prohibiting employment as Commander, USS receives Medal of Honor Japanese Americans. this month; keeps women immigration to the United American Cavalry Unit in discrimination based on age Opportune, a salvage posthumously for out of specialties or units States of Vietnamese United States, mobilized against those 40 and older. vessel. extraordinary heroism. that involve direct combat. children with U.S. for one-year active Federal Christmas Day Birth of Kwanzaa Begins parentage. service. Jesus (Christian) (Interfaith) 29 30 31 1944: 5,000 African 1941: Fifty Korean 1933: LTG Allen K. Ono, Americans volunteer to Americans are registered Army's first three-star participate in “Battle of the for California National Japanese American, born. Bulge.”; 2,500 accepted. Guard duty as of this date. Multiculturalism in the Armed Forces in the 20th Century 2002