The Negro Volunteer Infantry (ETO)

[patches]

281. WALLACE, Albert L.

 

Found his info in the May 1969 issue of Army Digest, Albert Lee Wallace, an African American, started out in the Transportation Corps, in France he switches to Infantry.

 

In WWII, 5th Platoon 310th Infantry 78th Infantry Division.

 

In Korea Co A 27th Infantry 25th Infantry Division.

 

In Vietnam, two tours, 1st Sergeant, 4th Battalion 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division company unknown, and a Sergeant Major, II Field Force Vietnam.

 

 

 

Wallace in 1965 in one of the battalions of the 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division Ft Lewis Washington.

 

 

On that second tour in 1969.

[Bluehawk]

On page 58 of his book "The Victors" author Stephen Ambrose mentions the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion (Colored) setting up their balloons in practice drills on a beach in England preparing for D-Day.

 

"The 320th VLA was the only black combat unit to take part in the D-Day landings and was the only barrage balloon battalion to land on the beaches. Units from the 320th landed on both Omaha and Utah beaches and, if you look at pictures of the D-Day beachhead and you see barrage balloons there, they were manned by three to five black troops from the 320th," said Jonathan Bernstein, Army Air Defense Artillery Museum director here. "The first Soldiers from the battalion landed on Omaha Beach at 9 a.m., two hours after the invasion began. The first balloon was floated at 11:15 p.m. that night, and by the next day all of their balloons were knocked out by German artillery fire. But, they were resupplied and were able to quickly float new balloons."

 

Source:

https://www.army.mil/article/119639/All_black_balloon_unit_served_with_distinction_on_D_Day

[Garandomatic]

12th Armored made use of fifth platoons as well, to great effect.

[carbinephalen]

Thank you for the updates to this one! A very fascinating aspect of the war!

[carbinephalen]

 

For your consideration, a member of the 99th 5th Platoon. You really don't see these photos surface too often. Thank you for your service Sir!

[patches]

Two from the 104th Infantry Division.

[Linedoggie]

I Cant find it anymore, I thought it was from CMH. But I once read a survey/AAR done post war among white soldiers who fought alongside those 5th platoons and it was quite interesting. Apparently some of the platoons were broken up and spread among the "White" platoons, some were grouped in some regiments. The Soldiers were very complimentary and the comments were picked out for southern soldiers who said they could not understand why this wasn't done sooner. There were very few negative comments overall among men who had fought alongside these platoons. 

[patches]

They are of the 9th Infantry Division.

[patches]

Pfc. Edgar E. Zeno G Co 39th Infantry 9th Infantry Division, he's being awarded the Silver Star by Division Commander Major General Louis A. Craig. I wonder if Zeno is still alive, found no Obit or FaG on him.

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/72184

[tredhed2]

Am late to the party on this one. The Jan-Mar 2003 Trading Post has an article on the VIR Program and lists the 11 divisions and the regts the men were assigned to.

 

What is missing from this discussion is that the Army had more soldiers volunteer than they had spaces for.  The program accepted senior NCOs.  Once the war was over in the ETO, the men were returned to their original units, but the places they held were filled. Many were reduced in rank to Pfc. 

[doinworkinvans]

Appears he died In 2001

[patches]

Edward A. Carter Jr 56th Armored Infantry Battalion 12th Armored Division.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_A._Carter_Jr.