During World War II the United States created several Special Fighting Forces. Each team was comprised of unique Americans with special talents, without which the war would not have been a victory for the Allies.
The Tuskegee Airmen
Fighter combat units were vital to winning the war in both Europe and the Pacific. As a result, every man who could fly a plane was recruited.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American fighter unit in the history of the American military. They were a part of the United States Army Air Forces - the 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Bombardment Group.
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Unfortunately, the military was still segregated when the Tuskegee Airmen were formed in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1941. It would take two full years for the airmen to
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This unit would fight in Italy, Northern France, and Germany while in World War II. They would become the most decorated unit for its size in the history of American warfare.
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Many of the troops were considered Nisei - born in the United States. Originating from Hawaii, where a large Japanese ancestry was present - these soldiers had not often experienced the internment camps that were located in the Western United States.
Known as the "Purple Heart Battalion," the 442nd was a key unit in the battle at Anzio, Italy (invasion of Italy) in 1944. The unit would earn 9,486 Purple Hearts, 8 Presidential Unit Citations and 21 Congressional Medals of Honor.
Navajo Code Talkers
During war, any advantage is vital to success. That includes being able to talk in codes. As a result, Native American languages were used to communicate.
The Navajo Code Talkers were a unit comprised of 400-500 Native Americans. They served as part of the United States Marines during World War II. Their task was transmitting messages in secret