by Nycole R. Howard

In 1999, I had the privilege of marrying Eric Howard, son of Johnny Howard and Nita King of Sumter, SC. Our relationship began in college, and by 1999 we had a two-year-old son and were ready to make a commitment to each other and to our family. While I had met most members of his family at the time we were married, there were still many I did not know. We didn’t have a large elaborate wedding so over the course of several years, I began to meet and get to know many of his, and thereby my, new family members.

In 2003, I was finishing up as a senior history major at Mars Hill College. For my senior seminar paper, I decided to do an oral history project with Eric’s grandfather, Mr. Henry King. He had served as a WWII soldier during a time when the armed forces of our country were still segregated. I knew that his insight and personal experiences would provide me not only with more knowledge of the war itself but of how the racial segregation and effects of blatant and, at that time accepted, racism impacted thousands of African American soldiers.

The paper itself was in no way a disappointment. Hearing Henry King’s story was amazing. He went from a 20-year-old southern farm boy from Fort Gaines, GA to a soldier being taken to the battlegrounds in European countries that he never thought he would ever see. The atrocities of the war itself were difficult for him to talk about but he recounted that his worst experience as a soldier came during a train ride in Georgia on his way back from the war.

After serving his country in this war to preserve democracy, Henry King was denied service at a diner in the state of Georgia. He was in uniform and had met four doctors on the train, all white, who insisted that he have a meal with them. What a tragedy it is that this decorated American hero was denied service in a public restaurant in his home state after returning from the brutal battlefields of the European theatre of WWII!

The Kings are a strong family that have endured and prospered throughout the years. Henry and his wife Cora King still reside in Fort Gaines, GA and have raised ten children. All seven of his sons have served in the United States armed forces under more preferable conditions than did their father - though still facing some discrimination, as prejudices and racial stereotypes still exist in our nation.

After the election of Barack Obama, my first thought was what a proud and exciting moment it must be for the Kings and so many others from their generation to know that things really are changing in our country. On this Veterans Day, I think it is even more important to honor the veterans of our nation for their great sacrifices and to especially remember those African American veterans who have served in every single war our country has seen.

Without a doubt, these soldiers endured not only the fears and dangers of battle but the mistreatment and sometimes hatred of the very people they fought for. How exciting indeed, that a black man will now lead our nation when Henry King remembers a time that this same man would not have even been allowed to fight alongside white soldiers on any battlefield!

More than anything, I believe that we can look forward to a leader who favors diplomacy over aggression and hope that there will come a day that war, like prejudice and discrimination will exist only in memories.

Happy Veterans Day to Henry King and to every other African American soldier who has served our country. And to their spouses, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and those who have the privilege to get to know them, honor their service and their legacy, for our freedom has come from their sacrifice.