World War II

A view of the coffin of former RAF Sergeant Peter Brown

Strangers pack British church for funeral of 96-year-old Jamaican ‘Pilot of the Caribbean’

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Tyler Perry bringing World War II film to Netflix

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102-year-old WWII veteran from segregated mail unit honored

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Tuskegee airman turning 100 requests birthday cards. We’ve given you his address

Retired Sgt. Victor W. Butler, who was a mechanic for the famed flying all-Black squadron, becomes a centenarian in two weeks.
/ May 6, 2022

Veterans Day legislation targets GI Bill racial inequities

For Veterans Day, a group of Democratic lawmakers is reviving an effort to pay the families of Black service members who fought in World War II.
/ November 11, 2021

Black female WWII unit hoping to get congressional honor

Fannie Griffin McClendon and her Army colleagues never dwelled on being the only Black battalion of women to serve in Europe during WW II.
/ July 13, 2021

Black WWII vet denied Purple Heart due to racism receives medal 77 years later

Army veteran Osceola “Ozzie” Fletcher, now 99, and an even older Black vet were honored with long-overdue medals of honor.
/ June 30, 2021
Richard Overton

Richard Overton, America’s oldest man and World War II veteran dies at 112

Having served in an all-black combat unit during World War II, he was honored multiple times for his service inside and outside of the military
/ December 28, 2018
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

America's oldest living WWII vet Richard Overton celebrated turning 109 in style

theGRIO REPORT – Richard Overton, take a bow. Overton, the oldest living World War II vet, celebrated his 109th birthday on Sunday in Austin, Texas…
/ May 6, 2015
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Black soldiers on D-Day: Invisible but present

theGRIO REPORT – When Allies hit the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago this week, there were black soldiers, but the US Army’s assault force was still segregated. In fact, the US First Army Omaha Beach assault team had less than 500 blacks out of 29,714 troops…
/ June 6, 2014