The Black Soldier, WWII

Synopsis: In the setting of a Black Church, the many contributions made by African-Americans in U.S. History and in America's wars and interventions. (B111m6011-A111of51)...(read more) Date: 1944Duration: 00:40:19Sound: YesColor: MonochromeType: Public DomainLanguage: English Location: U.S., Europe, Pacific Show All WWII Home Front Titles The Black Soldier The Black Soldier: Reel-1 Brief images of large city church in England, a Spanish-Mission style architecture church in America, and a small town or rural church in America. Black children entering rural American church. People entering large stone (Catholic) Church on street corner of eastern city. Choir sings hymn in Black Church. Black pastor in Clergy-Pastor robe delivers sermon. Pastor Moss directs attention to Service Flag On church wall. Pastor Moss recognizes African-American military persons in the congregation by name including a lady WAC (Women's Army Corps). Flashback to the Joe Louis-Max Schmeling boxing match (second fight) on June 22, 1938 in Yankee Stadium, New York City. Joe Louis won the fight by a technical knockout, cut to congregation in African-American church. Brief images of German paratrooper training. Images of Joe Louis leading boot camp inductees in WWII. Brief image of Adolf Hitler Mein Kampf book being held by Pastor Moss. Shows plaque of the Granary Burial Ground founded in 1660 in Boston, MA. With the use of photographs and video footage Moss speaks of the role African-Americans played in American history starting with the Boston Massacre, the American revolutionary War, Bunker hill, with George Washington in 1776, and at Valley Forge in the winter of 1778. Shows the pioneers building a frontier settlement. Shows a wagon train headed west, labors laying railroad track. Image of fast moving train toward camera. Brief image of oil wells pumping. The Black Soldier: Reel-2 Footage that detail accomplishments of African-Americans (Blacks) in history of America. Brief scenes of the U.S. 9th Calvary soldiers in the Spanish American War in Cuba and construction of the Panama Canal. Shows U.S. warship moving through the Panama Canal. Shows troop transport ship departing for Europe with AEF (American Expeditionary Forces) in WWI. Blacks fought with Pershing in France serving with the 813th Pioneer Regiment, 332nd Labor Battalion, 808th Pioneer Regiment. Heavy artillery guns firing WWI, explosion as shell strikes target. Blacks fighting with the 8th Illinois which became known as the 370th U.S. Infantry. African-Americans with the 372nd Infantry Regiment and the 371st troops shown charging "over the top" in WWI. Brief image of railway gun WWI. African-American soldiers with the 369th Infantry Regiment. WWI troops charging out of the trenches and across a smoke filled battle field. Soldiers of the African-American 369th Regiment receives the Croix de Guerre. The 369th Infantry regiment, nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters and the Black Rattlers, parade in New York City at end of WWI. Image of "All Wars Memorial To Colored Soldiers and Sailors" in Philadelphia Pennsylvania erected in 1934. Image of stone memorial to Colored Troops of the 371st Infantry erected in France in 1918 and blown up by the Nazis in 1941. Scenes of Booker T. Washington monument. Footage of George Washington Carver working in laboratory and other prominent African-Americans as a judge, explorer, surgeon, publisher, educator, sculpture, and singer. Symphony orchestra plays Beethoven. Football game with players wearing leather helmets. Newspaper Headline reads "Negro Athletes Star In Berlin Olympics". Flashback to Jesse Owens and Ralph Harold Metcalfe in 1936 Berlin Olympics. Cornelius Johnson high jump 1936 Berlin Olympics. Images of African-Americans in church, cut to African-American pastor. Hitler and Nazi Officers looking at maps and war plans on table. Japanese military officers looking at map and plotting WWII. Image of Hitler and Officers in jovial mood. Images of explosion and falling building in WWII. Russian civilians hung by the Germans WWII, bombing of Chinese cities by Japanese bombers, Chinese civilians fleeing in panic in WWII. Atrocities committed by the Germans in Russia hanging civilians and the Japanese in China by bombing Chinese cities. Scenes of the Japanese attack and bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Black Soldier: Reel-3 Brief scene of aftermath of Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Pastor continues sermon, view of congregation in church as lady reminds the Pastor of the U.S. Infantry and points to a Blue Star service banner hanging in the church. Flashback to WWII: Army inductees (draftees) recruits in U.S. Army saying goodbye at train station. Army recruits arrive at "induction center" and interviewed as to past work experiences. Recruits are given talk by Army Chaplain. Recruits are taught the purpose of the "salute" and how to give a proper salute. Recruits are measured and receives army boots and army uniforms. Recruits board train for "boot camp". Recruits learn the "army way" to tuck a sheet on a bunk (bed), how to march, cross country marches, training on rifle range. Boot camp sports activities, football, baseball, boxing, ping pong. Scenes of women at a U.S. Army boot camp marching, driving jeeps over rough terrain. New Army recruits at dance. Shows mass exercise of Army recruits, charge with fixed bayonets. The Black Soldier: Reel-4 New U.S. Army recruits trained to charge with fixed bayonet in "boot camp". Army recruits at large outdoor church services. Group of Black servicemen with heads bowed in prayer. Pastor speaks to recruits and gives encouragement to become an Army officer. Scenes of graduation after Officer Training at West Point. Shows Black pilots earning their wings as pilots at Tuskegee Flight School. Black pilots with parachutes, line of U.S. fighter planes, fighter planes take-off. Close-up of Black pilot in cockpit of fighter plane in flight. Soldiers train in winter conditions, artillery firing, in turrets of tanks. Black soldiers trained in tank warfare, as engineers building bridges, as a Quarter Master moving troops, in communications, in the horseback Calvary, infantry in a half-track military vehicle, manning anti-aircraft gun. Infantry recruits crawling along ground under machine gun live fire, climbing a "cargo net" The Black Soldier: Reel-5 Brief image of U.S. Army recruits in "boot camp" training, climbing a cargo net. Pastor continues with sermon in church. U.S. Army soldiers walk-up troop ship gangplank with field gear. Brief scenes of construction equipment moving dirt on a south Pacific Island, building bridge in Europe, fast moving truck under artillery fire, explosions, loading and firing artillery guns, soldier using flamethower, infantry charging with fixed bayonets, tanks advancing, fighter plane in flight. Black soldier mans and fires anti-aircraft gun at attacking Japanese plane, close-up image of Japanese pilot. LS enemy plane shot down in flames. Enemy plane in flames crashes and explodes near camera. Shows white crosses with names of soldiers and images of these servicemen. Close-up of Gold Star banner. Close-up of Black Pastor in prayer, view of church congregation with heads bowed. Scenes of church choir singing. U.S. servicemen from all branches of service marching.