Publisher's Synopsis
Black Americans have played a significant role in the American military dating back to before the creation of the United States itself. African Americans have participated in every war fought either by or within the United States, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.
Volume One covered Twenty-six Black Americans who earned the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, including eight sailors of the Union Navy, fifteen soldiers of the United States Colored Troops, and three soldiers of other Army units. It also covered the Eighteen African Americans that earned the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars, with fourteen being awarded to members of the Army's first peacetime Black regiments, (9th Cavalry, 10th Cavalry, 24th Infantry, and 25th Infantry) and the remaining four Medal of Honor being awarded to U.S. Army Indian Scouts recruited from among the Black Seminoles, a group of Seminole Indians of African descent. Volume Two covered Medals of Honor awarded to African Americans during the Spanish-American War (6), The China Relief Expedition/Boxer Rebellion (1), Interim/Non Combat Awards (8), The First World War (2), The Second World War (7), and the Korean War (2). Following the awards in the Spanish American War, there would not be another award until the Korean War, the recognition of contributions made by African Americans in both WW I and WW II being delayed decades until a Department of Defense study ordered in the early 1990s. Volume 3 will include the remaining 23 MOHs awarded during the Vietnam War and the single recipient in the War on Terrorism (Iraq). Despite fighting two wars, one overseas, one with the military, Black Americans have overcome prejudice and discrimination to perform heroically in combat and show valor "Above and Beyond the call of Duty".
