Half American Project
Arnav and Raahi
Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers was an
African-American civil rights activist
who dedicated his life to the fight for
racial equality in the United States.
Born in Mississippi in 1925, Evers
served in the U.S. Army during World
War II and then attended Alcorn A&M
College, where he earned a degree in
business administration. He then
began working for the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) and became
the organization's first field officer in
Mississippi.
Evers was instrumental in organizing
boycotts, voter registration drives, and
other acts of civil disobedience in
Mississippi in the 1950s and 1960s. He
also led the effort to integrate the
University of Mississippi in 1962, which
was met with violent resistance from
white supremacists.
Evers' activism put him and his family in danger, as he received
numerous death threats and was the victim of multiple assassination
attempts. Tragically, on June 12, 1963, Evers was assassinated outside
his home in Jackson, Mississippi, by a white supremacist named Byron
De La Beckwith. Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Beckwith
was not convicted of Evers' murder until 1994, over thirty years later.
Evers' death galvanized the civil rights movement and inspired activists
across the country to continue the fight for equality. He was
posthumously awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP and was
buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Today,
Evers is remembered as a hero and a symbol of the sacrifices made by
those who fought for civil rights during the turbulent 1960s. His legacy
continues to inspire new generations of activists to fight for justice and
equality for all.
Colonel Leon Reed
Colonel Leon Reed was an American
military officer who served during World
War II. He was born in 1908 in
Massachusetts and attended the United
States Military Academy at West Point,
where he graduated in 1931.During World
War II, Reed served in the United States
Army Air Corps, later known as the United
States Army Air Forces. He flew numerous
combat missions over Europe and North
Africa as a bomber pilot, and was eventually
promoted to the rank of colonel.
One of Colonel Reed's most notable
accomplishments occurred in 1943, when he
participated in the "Operation Tidal Wave" mission
over Romania. As part of the mission, Reed piloted
a B-24 bomber on a low-level bombing run against
an oil refinery in Ploiesti, Romania, which was a
critical source of oil for the German war effort.
Despite intense enemy fire and heavy losses, Reed
and his crew pressed on and successfully dropped
their bombs on the target, causing significant
damage.
After the war, Colonel Reed continued to serve in
the military, and in 1957, he was appointed as the
director of the Air Force History Office. He retired
from active duty in 1960 and continued to be
involved in military and historical organizations
until his death in 1991. Colonel Leon Reed's
military career was marked by bravery and
dedication to service, and he played an important
role in the Allied victory in World War II.
Waverly Woodson- A War Hero
Waverly Woodson Jr. was an
African-American medic who
served in the United States Army
during World War II. Woodson
was a hero during World War II,
especially during the D-Day
invasion on Omaha Beach.
Although he was injured himself,
he spent over 30 hours treating
wounded soldiers, German and
American.
Woodson was also awarded the
Purple Heart and the Bronze Star
Medal in 2019 in order to
recognize his bravery and service
during World War II. His acts
and awards all act as
representations for the sacrifices
he made in the military, and the
importance of his contributions
Additionally, he was a representative for
African-Americans in the military;
Woodson was part of the 320th Barrage
Balloon Battalion, which was an all-black
unit that faced discrimination and racism
within the military at the time. His service
and bravery helped pave the way for future
generations of African-Americans in the
military.
Charity Adams Earley
Charity Adams Earley was a trailblazing African
American woman who achieved many firsts in her
lifetime. She was born on December 5, 1918, in
Kittrell, North Carolina. In 1942, during World War II,
she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in
the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC),
becoming one of the first African American women
to be accepted into the program. She went on to
become the first African American woman
commissioned as a WAC officer and the first to
command a unit of African American women in the
army.
During her time in the army, Earley led the 6888th
Central Postal Directory Battalion, which was
responsible for sorting and distributing mail for
American troops in Europe during World War II.
The battalion faced significant challenges,
including discrimination and segregation from
their white counterparts, but Earley worked
tirelessly to overcome these obstacles and ensure
that her unit's mission was accomplished. Her
leadership and dedication to her soldiers earned
her widespread respect and admiration, and she
was awarded numerous honors for her service,
including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
After the war, Earley continued to be a trailblazer in her field.
She earned a master's degree in business administration
from the University of Wisconsin and went on to become
the first African American woman to work as a national
urban affairs consultant for the Republican National
Committee. She also worked as a professor of business
administration and was active in numerous community
organizations and causes.
Throughout her life, Charity Adams Earley broke down
barriers and paved the way for future generations of women
and African Americans in the military and beyond. Her
legacy continues to inspire and empower people to this day,
and she remains a true icon of courage, leadership, and
dedication to service.
Ollie Stewart
Ollie Stewart was a black soldier who served in the
United States Army during World War II. He was born
on February 22, 1918, in Wetumpka, Alabama. Stewart
enlisted in the army in 1942 and served in the
European Theater of Operations as a member of the
370th Infantry Regiment, a unit made up of African
American soldiers. He participated in some of the
fiercest fighting of the war, including the Battle of the
Bulge and the Rhineland Campaign. Despite facing
discrimination and segregation from their white
counterparts, Stewart and his fellow black soldiers
demonstrated exceptional bravery and commitment to
their country. After the war, Stewart returned to
Alabama and worked as a farmer. I
In 2013, he was awarded the French
Legion of Honor for his service during
World War II. Ollie Stewart's story
serves as a reminder of the sacrifices
and contributions made by African
American soldiers during the war, and
their ongoing struggle for equality and
justice.