Eisenhower National Historic Site

African-American Soldiers with Special Artillery Ammo for Hitler
Easter Sunday, 1945

Technical Sergeant William E. Thomas and Private First Class Joseph Jackson prepared a gift of special “Easter Eggs” for Adolph Hitler and the German Army. Scrawling such messages on artillery shells in World War II was one way in which artillery soldiers could humorously express their dislike of the enemy.

By March, 1945 many more U.S. combat units of African-Americans were on the front. Lieutenant Colonel Chet Hansen, aide to 12th Army Group commander Omar Bradley, noted in his diary on April 8, 1945, that “Negroes are now being used in volunteer (combat) platoons with our divisions and according to Bradley they are doing well.”

On April 7, 1945, Private First Class Willy F. James, Jr., volunteered to be lead scout. Private James was a member of the all black platoon assigned to Company G, 413th Regiment,104th Infantry Division. When he got pinned down by enemy fire for over an hour, instead of panicking, Private James made a detailed observation of the German positions. After safely returning to the platoon, he assisted in working out a plan of attack, and then personally led a squad in the subsequent fighting. He was killed by enemy machine gun fire while going to the aid of his fatally wounded platoon leader.

The US Army was segregated during World War II, but the attitudes towards African-Americans in uniform were undergoing change in the minds of some generals, including Eisenhower and Bradley. Five years later the military ended segregation in the army by order of President Truman. However, because of racial bias prevalent in the Army in 1945, it was not until 1997 that Private James’ extraordinary heroism was finally recognized with a posthumous Medal of Honor presented to his surviving relatives by President Bill Clinton at a White House Ceremony. Six other African-American World War II heroes were similarly honored at the time.

National Archives # 111-SC-202330



African-American Soldiers with Special Artillery Ammo for Hitler Easter Sunday, 1945 Technical Sergeant William E. Thomas and Private First Class Joseph Jackson prepared a gift of special “Easter Eggs” for Adolph Hitler and the German Army. Scrawling such messages on artillery shells in World War II was one way in which artillery soldiers could humorously express their dislike of the enemy. By March, 1945 many more U.S. combat units of African-Americans were on the front. Lieutenant Colonel Chet Hansen, aide to 12th Army Group commander Omar Bradley, noted in his diary on April 8, 1945, that “Negroes are now being used in volunteer (combat) platoons with our divisions and according to Bradley they are doing well.” On April 7, 1945, Private First Class Willy F. James, Jr., volunteered to be lead scout. Private James was a member of the all black platoon assigned to Company G, 413th Regiment,104th Infantry Division. When he got pinned down by enemy fire for over an hour, instead of panicking, Private James made a detailed observation of the German positions. After safely returning to the platoon, he assisted in working out a plan of attack, and then personally led a squad in the subsequent fighting. He was killed by enemy machine gun fire while going to the aid of his fatally wounded platoon leader. The US Army was segregated during World War II, but the attitudes towards African-Americans in uniform were undergoing change in the minds of some generals, including Eisenhower and Bradley. Five years later the military ended segregation in the army by order of President Truman. However, because of racial bias prevalent in the Army in 1945, it was not until 1997 that Private James’ extraordinary heroism was finally recognized with a posthumous Medal of Honor presented to his surviving relatives by President Bill Clinton at a White House Ceremony. Six other African-American World War II heroes were similarly honored at the time. National Archives # 111-SC-202330
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