Men & Women in Uniform

Chapter 25.4World War II, 1941-1945

pp. 766-771

MobilizationAfter Pearl Harbor Americans jammed

recruiting offices5 million volunteered for serviceThe Selective Service System was expanded

and another 10 million were drafted (GI’s)Women’s Army Corps (WAC’s) 350,000

women served as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricians, parachute riggers, photographers, mechanics, and clerks (WAVES, WASPS)

The Selective Service Act

• 1940-45: –Ages 18-45 drafted –Rejected 1/3 –16+ million trained–350,000 women

U.S. NavyEnlistment

Poster

Women in the Military• 350,000 women serve• Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps

(WAACS)• Women Accepted for Voluntary

Service (WAVES)• Military roles for women?…

WAAC Women’s

Army Auxiliary

Corps

WAVES Women

Accepted for Voluntary

Service

Diversity in the Armed Forces300,000 Mexican Americans served25,000 Native Americans Served (Navaho Code

Talkers)1 million African Americans servedAt first blacks were given supporting roles in

segregated units, by 1942 they were given some combat opportunities

The Tuskegee Airman, Dr. Charles DrewBy 1944 some African Americans served in white

combat units33,000 Japanese and 13,000 Chinese served

"the blood of individual human beings may differ by blood groupings, but

there is absolutely no scientific basis to indicate any difference in human

blood from race to race.“… Dr. Drew

Dorie Miller

Received the Navy Cross

May 27, 1942

The Tuskegee Airmen• “Red Tails”• First Black military airmen • 1,000 Black pilots trained at

Tuskegee, Ala• 15,553 sorties• Two citations awarded

442nd Japanese American Unit

KIA WIA MIA Total

Naples-Foggia Campaign

139 442 3 584

Rome-Arno Campaign

239 1,016 17 1,272

Rhineland Campaign-Vosges

160 1,220 42 1,422

Rhineland Campaign-Maritime Alps

11 102 2 115

Po Valley Campaign

101 922 3 1,026

Total 650 3713* 67 4,419*

KIA  = Killed In Action (includes Died Of Wounds)WIA =442nd Regimental Combat Team Facts Wounded In Action (includes Injured In Action)*Includes 15 WIA/IIA in 442nd Anti-Tank Company at Southern France Campaign (invasion)

Source: U.S. Army Mediterranean Theater of Operations Information-Education Section.  The Story of the 442nd Combat Team, Composed of: 442nd Infantry Regiment, 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 232nd Combat Engineer Company,  1945.

The Bataan Death March• 7 January – 9 April 1942 (3 months,

and 2 days)• 78,000 surrendered • 60 miles – 7 days• Limited food & water• Random executions • 6-11,000 died on route?

In a Japanese prison camp U.S. POWs celebrate 4th of July, 1942

The Bataan Death March (1942)…

The Bataan Death March (1942)

The Bataan Death March (1942)

Camp O’Donnel 1,600 Americans 10,000 Filipinos died here

POWs• 1941-45 POW Death Rate

–Japan: 40%–Germany: 1.2%.–Prisoners were subjected to

slave labor, cruel punishment & medical experiments