During the World War II years (1939-45), racial segregation was practiced in the military as well as in areas of the American South. African Americans often trained in separate facilities than whites, and some units of the military were offlimits to non-whites. Calling segregation in the military "the most un-American activity in the whole government," President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972; see entry in volume 4) issued Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948. To pursue desegregation of the military, Truman created the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services to recommend a process that would ensure the executive order was carried out.

Things to remember while reading President Truman's executive order banning segregation in the military:

President Truman's executive order banning segregation in the military