Ever since the United States came into existence more than 200 years ago, millions of brave individuals have served proudly in its armed forces.
Among those millions who have sacrificed are African-Americans who answered the call to serve, although they did not always enjoy the country’s promised freedoms.
As America prepares to celebrate Veterans Day this weekend, local residents are reminded why the contributions of military men and women should not be taken for granted.
“Freedom is never free,” said Steve Barnett, a U.S. Navy veteran and commander of Tillman Harpole American Legion Post 249, a predominantly African-American post. “As we remember the fight for our own individual freedoms here in America, we see that if it wasn’t for those Black veterans, especially going back to the Civil War, we may not be free today.”
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 491,600 of Indiana’s residents are veterans, 357,000 of which served during wartime, mostly during the Vietnam era and the Persian Gulf War.
Throughout the history of Indiana, African-Americans have proudly served with bravery and dedication, although they often faced discrimination when they returned home.
Wilma Moore, senior archivist of African-American history for the Indiana Historical Society, notes that there is “a long and deep history” of Blacks from Indiana serving in the Civil War (1861-65), the Spanish American War (1898), World War I (1914-18), World War II (1939-45), the Korean Conflict (1950-53), the Vietnam Era (1963-75), the Gulf War (1990-91) and the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Blacks from Indiana have been real patriots, and have never shirked their responsibility,” said Moore.
She noted the effort in Indiana to recruit Black soldiers during the Civil War, which was led in part by Rev. Willis Revels, then pastor of the historic Bethel AME Church, which is now the city’s oldest surviving Black church.
One of the 13 Black Civil War surgeons was from Indiana, and Barnett noted that the conflict also produced one of the first African-American Medal of Honor recipients.
Black servicemen from Indiana have also been members of historic groups from each of the military branches, including the U.S. Army’s Buffalo Soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen of the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force), the U.S. Navy’s Golden 13 and the Montford Point Marines.
“African-Americans have done their share and participated mightily,” Moore said. “They never resisted the fight, and have always been willing to be patriotic and fight for this country.”
Moore mentioned well known figures such as the late John Morton-Finney, a Buffalo Soldier from Indianapolis who became an attorney and principal of Crispus Attucks High School, and Charles Hall, a Brazil resident who joined the Tuskegee Airmen and became the first African-American to shoot down an enemy plane.
Currently, Indianapolis has one surviving original Tuskegee Airman, Arthur L. Carter Sr., and three original Montford Point Marines, Averitte Corley, Lancaster Price and Johnny Washington.
“The significance of this is that we are an integral part of the fabric of this country and have made a large contribution to its quest for freedom,” said Barnett, who has also served as only the second African-American commander of the American Legion’s Marion County district.
Veterans today
While appreciating the historical contributions of Black veterans, Barnett noted that more awareness needs to be raised about the challenges faced by all people who serve in the armed forces
“Health care is important issue, because we’re seeing injuries we never saw before,” said Barnett. “For example, post traumatic stress disorder, which we used to call shell shock, is now more advanced because of the weaponry that is being used.”
Kelly Jo Nibbs, CEO of Coping and Healing Behavioral Health Services, agrees, and believes treatment and prevention of mental health disorders is a priority.
“It is very important that we as a community provide veterans with the assistance they need,” said Kelly Jo Nibbs, CEO of Coping and Healing Behavioral Health Services. “They do have access to other centers, but if there is an overflow we are more than happy to provide services once they return home.”
He added that sensitivity must be shown to the needs of women in the armed forces and communities need to develop solutions for veterans who need jobs.
Some observers have mentioned that not enough discussion took place about veterans issues during this year’s election. Barnett, however, said that there will never be enough discussion until homelessness and psychological distress among veterans is reduced, and there is more accounting of military personnel who are missing.
“Until those things happen, there can never be enough discussion,” Barnett said.
