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Truman’s Courage Inspires Supporters of Equality to Take Action

Sixty-one years after I became the beneficiary of President Truman's executive order to integrate the armed forces, I had the privilege to share my journey. This journey began with me as an initial entry soldier (Pvt.) in a segregated Army, and completed with me as a Major General in an integrated Army.

On Monday SLDN and the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum presented the Freedom to Serve Forum, recognizing the importance of President Truman's decision to integrate the armed forces. He took this action even though many of his civilian advisers and military leaders were opposed to it.

The presentation by Truman's grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, and his great-granddaughter, Aimee Daniel, presents a challenge to all of us to take action. It was a great honor for me to meet the grandson of the President who desegregated the military in which I served. While the executive order was a giant step forward for diversity, however, challenges remain. Now is not the time to sit back, but to embrace courage as President Truman did 61 years ago and fight for equality so that all qualified Americans can serve.

Juan Williams of NPR and FOX provided us with the links between then and now in his keynote address. Thank you, Juan Williams, for helping us to share our experiences. And thanks to all the other panelists for sharing their military journeys.

We were provided with a very special international touch from our comrades in Israel and Australia. I find it very interesting that while other countries not only preach but practice equality, the greatest democracy in the world is still struggling with how to implement it 61 years later. I was particularly moved when I heard how the Australian military serving in Iraq provided counseling and care to one of our gay service members who lost his partner on the field of battle. He could not recognize the relationship to his own U.S. chain of command, so he had to turn to a foreign military.

Thank you SLDN, the Truman Library and Museum, and Juan Williams for a very special experience.

07-31-09 By Major General Vance Coleman (Ret.) |