Korean War

Korean War — Integration Tested in Combat

The Korean War (1950–1953) was the first major armed conflict fought by a desegregated U.S. military — a direct result of President Truman's Executive Order 9981, signed just two years earlier. African American soldiers who had long been confined to segregated units now served alongside white troops, proving on the battlefield what many had argued for decades: that integration made America stronger.

Key Units & Moments

  • 24th Infantry Regiment — one of the last all-Black units to serve before full integration, with a distinguished combat record in Korea
  • 2nd Infantry Division — significant Black troop participation in some of the war's fiercest engagements
  • 7272nd Army Unit — Black soldiers in critical support and logistics roles
  • Medal of Honor recipients — African American soldiers recognized for extraordinary valor, some posthumously after decades of delay

The Forgotten War, Unforgotten Soldiers

Korea is often called "The Forgotten War" — but the Black soldiers who served there must not be forgotten. They fought in brutal conditions, from the frozen Chosin Reservoir to the hills of Pork Chop, and helped forge the integrated military that America relies on today.

Our Korean War collection honors their courage, their sacrifice, and the historic turning point they helped create.

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