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From New York Daily News

William Garfield Dabney, a 20-year-old enlistee, landed on the beaches of Normandy 65 years ago Saturday. Tethered to his waist was a bomb-armed helium balloon, meant to bring down a German dive bomber. George Davidson, then 22, ferried messages between American commanders under the cover of night, dodging enemy fire with nothing but his wits to guide him. Both men, members of the same all-black unit, survived the bloody D-Day landings that launched the Allied liberation of France. But because they were black, they disappeared into oblivion – a historic wrong that at last is being rectified. Mr. Dabney today will be among 50 U.S. veterans awarded the Legion of Honor, France’s highest decoration, in Paris. The vets will return to Normandy tomorrow for the official D-Day ceremony with U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

“The whole group should have been decorated,” Bill Davidson, of Waynesburg, Pa., said of his father, who died in 2002. “The contribution of blacks has never been acknowledged.”

Few of the 900,000 African-American vets who fought in World War II received medals. Photos of black soldiers were long conspicuously missing from commemorating major World War II battlefields. To Mr. Dabney, who grew up in small-town Altavista, Va., the exclusion was no surprise – but it still hurt. “It makes you feel bad, when you don’t get the recognition like the white soldiers, that they threw your name in the garbage,” he said.

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  • http://real-url.org/twitted.php?id=2048637309 Twitted by bp_newsone

    [...] This post was Twitted by bp_newsone – Real-url.org [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Stan_Vinyl/ Stan_Vinyl

    Lemme guess… ummmmmm, Barack for $500 Alex!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lsmith1981/ lsmith1981

    Too late for all of that…..They are Dead now..!!so whats the Point??

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/maatra/ maatra

    in the book native son by richard white bigger thomas said that he wanted to join the airforce so he could fly a plain over the white house and bomb the muthaphuka

    I be gladwhen one of these brothas and sista in the military do the right thing like bigger thomas would do if he was in da military

    This kkkracka has ben using sum serious mind control on us

    Cut off the tell lie vision

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/omar_78/ omar_78

    why bomb the white house???? stupid…. 1. a black family lives there, 2.black people work there, 3.that’s some terrorist $H!T, 4. it’s not even possible…… U must B
    ReTaRdEd!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/vonmiwi1/ vonmiwi1

    Regardless of whether they were acknowledged or not my father and the other men who served knew that they served proudly regardless of what they faced when they returned home. My father served as a photographer in the Army and we had several pictures of Black men serving proudly who knew that they did the jobs required of them regardless of the overt racism they faced. That’s why as a veteran, I dare anyone to tell me what I can and can not do! I’ve earned every right just as much as the next person.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com//

    Omar u 1 uneducated ignorant negropean. U never read the book never ever looked at life as it truly is.

    Harriet tuban said she freed thousands of slaves and couldve free many more if only they knew they were slaves. Harriet had to pull a pistol on her husband cause the silly negro said he was telling massa

    The house naga is worst than the kraka. It was the black mayor of newjersy who ordered the bombing of the M.O.V.E organizaton that killed black men women and children

    I don’t know obama all I know he speak on the damn jew and they issues but can’t speak on katrina and those who are to be evicted

    It was the buffalo soldiers who helped this evil wicked white beast kill our enemies enemy

    Omar get sum knowledge befoe u c** at me.

    There’s only one terroist in amerikkka and that’s the goddamn white man. And obama woeks for them they sign his check

    The black man and woman was here before the white boy. Read ivan van sertimas book they came before columbus and study the olmec and the mali kings. Abubukari and khan musa

    Silly azz negropean. Uneducated sissy

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/CamuiMS/ CamuiMS

    Maatra, i don’t recall any such thing in Native Son. It may have been some years since I read it, nevertheless….

    ((the pseudo-militant types are always good for a laugh

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/black_amigo/ black_amigo

    This is such a sad story, it really is. with the greatest respect, anyone who is white can not even begin the understand the great betrayal Europe has done to the black man in relation to this event.

    I’m not racist however, it really annoys me when the white man always grabs the glory. Simple facts. He caused it, however he did not end it. That’s why it was called a WORLD WAR. It’s so cowardly how they also deliberately has destroyed or hidden authentic photographs of the effort made by normal back people during this awful event.

    Not so long ago on the BBC, there was a report on how it’s only come to light on there were in the region of 170,000 troops who fought (mainly.) for France during the war. After the war, during the victory parades through Paris if you ever see the picture of the troops marching through the City, I want you to know that the majority are actually Spanish, not French but Spanish.

    Before the victory parade, if all was fair, there would have been more black faces than any other in that victory parade. But France, Spain and Britain colluded together to deliberately keep the black soldiers who fought and liberated France out of the Picture, quite literally.

    It’s also another hidden secret of this event that the common wealth country that made the biggest contribution to Britain was actually India.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Wut_a_Girl_Need/ Wut_a_Girl_Need

    Niggas will always be ignorant.. Especially when it comes to past events. I’m glad to see there are a limited few who know and appreciate the past.
    When you say shyt, its not always what you mean Especially when youre mad During a Time of RACISM. Do you think black men were going to blow some shyt up when they had to fight JUST to get recognized enough to be able to fight in the white mans war?
    Its good to see these black men finally getting appreciated for the services. F**ked up that it took so long.

    I know its a bunch of niggas that didnt know the D-Day event Happened This month on the 6th.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/kennyd4/ kennyd4

    kinda makes you wonder why black people keep joining this bulls**t white mans services and s**t dont pan out like we think they should we get bent outta shape.well heres alittle secret black folks,WHITEY DONT GIVE A F**K ABOUT UR DUMB BLACK ASSES.if they did we wouldnt have to keep going over the same s**t everytime these devils decide to start a war(THATS W.A.R.)WHITE ANGLO RESISTANCE,against all that is good or right.you would think we as a people wouldve figured this s**t out by now.thats why when i talk to some brain dead nigga and he/she starts bragging about how many people of color they shot while protecting whiteys s**t abroad or at home i try my best to throw up on the stupid f**k cause they are the worst house niggas there are and it makes my stomach turn to know they killed someone whos closer to me them the cracker thier protecting.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Luxurious_02/ Luxurious_02

    thank u presidant obama to finally help recognize and honor what was way past due… it’s sad, however that america has to have an african american president to do so…but not surprised. But most of the people that served ww2 and before, are old or past away by now…just evidence of how racist america still remains. just becuase there is a black man as our president now doesn’t mean this country is less racist.america is doin the same thing the’ve always done when s**t gets real bad in america…go get a black man to fix it, which includes these past soilders and the first black president under the confederate costitution(before the u.s.constition), jus to name a couple examples.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/brandip77/ brandip77

    I appreciate News One posting this article. I wish more young people paid attention to articles such as this. We need to learn about, respect and pay homage to blacks who served and paved the way for our freedoms. Ignorance is not a good look.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/blackdiamond184/ blackdiamond184

    This article is typical of a racially focused website. What this article failed to mention is during WW2 out of the 900,000 black soldiers there were very few blacks who actually saw combat. Most of the black soldiers were cooks in the Navy, none in the marines and the black army men were laborers and cleaned. What would they get a medal for doing the laundry ? It is a shame that the one black unit who was involed in the Normandy invation was over looked for all these years. Thank goodness we live in better days. God Bless them and that they are able to finaly get recognition for there effort in a terrible chapter in world history.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/The_Lion_of_God/ The_Lion_of_God

    I guess they forgot that Black people served in The Civil War, Spanish American War, Korean War, Desert Storm and i9n the Balkans. How do you expect other people to repsect the service of Black people when you omit the contributions of us in ALL the wars the US has been in?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/queenahna/ queenahna

    this makes me very proud to ride with the name BUFFALO TROOPERS on my back….!!as a member of a motorcycle club that gives this history back to the public.. schools, seminars, public engagemnets etc….it just warms my heart and i’m sure the other 1200 plus of our organization to say it’s about time !!!!!
    “QUEEN”

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/OldMovieGent/ OldMovieGent

    Responding to the poster of the 6:40 p.m. comment. The poster does not accurately depict African-American experience in WW II. First there were Blacks in the Marine Corp. Second by way of personal antidote I have talked with contemporaries of my Mother who were in the service during WW II and the several spoke of combat experience in Europe during the War. Subsequently I have done some research on the internet regarding this subject. …and here is a link to one chapter on Blacks in the Marines and Coast Guard.

    http://www.history.army.mil/books/integration/IAF-04.htm

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/bigj97216/ bigj97216

    @blackdiamond184 your comment is so outrageous I’m at a loss for words. I’m surprised no one else on here has called you out. People ask all the the time when will racism end. What would go along way in helping to end racism would be to do what they did to the Stepin Fechit negro in the movie Bamboozled. You are disgrace to the human race. to spew out such ignorant t**ttle on a day of such pride for all of America. You are a billboard for birth control. You ignorant stupid twit.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/bigj97216/ bigj97216

    Some of you blacks on here ( I use the small s to denote your status) make me worry about the future of Black America. But luckily you are the minority on here. You are the equivalent of the rush limpballs, insanity hannitys, and other freaks in the reich wing.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/BATROPIAN1/ BATROPIAN1

    I am proud to say that I am proud of all black soldiers who sacraficed their lives. I read some of these post and it is very sad to see so many black people still not understanding history, but showing how ignorant, uneducated, cowards and most of all part of my race. My father was in WWII and received a purple heart regardless what his job was during this period he is part of the reason today why I am able to succeed in my life by doing what he needed to do protecting and opening doors not only for his family but the black race as a whole. So, all you undeducated, ignorant, cowards learn to be a real man by thanking all of our black soldiers or any soldiers who protects your life even when you don’t deserve to be call ed a man but a coward.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/csmooth0809/ csmooth0809

    How the FVCK do blacks fight in the U.S. army during segration and blacks were getting hung from left to right in the south? Somehow these baffouns wanted to serve their country. Fvck that! Even now in 2009 I wouldn’t serve in the army for this country we are still being killed by the PIGS who are suppose to protect and serve not to mention injustice in the courtrooms ect. WW2 black soldiers ha ha!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/RellyRel05/ RellyRel05

    To the person dumb enough to to disrespect black veterans who served in furtherance of your freedoms the answer is simple. They served in WWII because many of them were drafted. Others needed well paying jobs, and the military provided that. Also take into account that after WWII ended the army was de-segregated by Pres. Truman, after he too acknowledged it was rediculous to segregrate black and white men who ultimately died protecting one country.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Heart_Mender67/ Heart_Mender67

    @csmooth
    Opinions are like a*****es, everyone has them, but like your’s some are bigger than others.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Lokeyboy129/ Lokeyboy129

    If you ignorant blacks on here do your research, blackdiamond184 is right there were not many blacks who actually saw combat, my grandfather was a cook in WW2 about the only job he could get and so was just about every other black. Stop trying to puff up black history it is what it is, There is a difference between cooking meals and being in the trenches. Most black people on here don’t even take the time to visit there grandparents in nursing homes so stop actin like yal really give a s**t about black history. Is it the system or is it because most niggas got 2 to 3 kids out of wedlock and smoke weed every day. Who’s fault is that homie ? Obama figured out what it means to be a true proud american why can’t yal, Excuses excuses

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/vasco5/ vasco5

    any new history blacks gets they should be greatful you think you know whats going on because you have a little fact put down ppl open your eyes this world his all about which race make break ground history and some will do anything stop you from getting before them but that didn’t stop black wall street and that comment ain’t either black folks didn’t need affirmative action.affirmative action is a psycology put down which it’s really mean sorry for stopping and fighting yall from keeping your business.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/vasco5/ vasco5

    yall didn’t even know black folks fought in the revolution war and help mold the

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/BlackCasper2001/ BlackCasper2001

    Ok. This is obviously controversial. Look at it this way. If segregation was the “in” thing don’t you think that whites wanted blacks to be killed? That’s why they put blacks in the war. Come on Csmooth…they’d wash out blacks with water hydrants and beat them for standing up for their rights. Don’t be ignorant and show once again how some blacks don’t support other blacks.

    -N.S. Ugezene-

  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=4714 Black Info.Net – African American News Hub | Black Info.Net

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