Infantry Buffalo Division
The 92nd Infantry was the only so-called black division to see combat in Europe. Created during an era when segregation was prevalent in America, the 92nd Division was beset continuously by controversy because of the same rigid policy of segregation in the U.S. Army.
Except for a few chaplains and medical officers, all commanders and staff officers were supposed to be white because no black officer in the 92nd Division was considered capable of commanding an infantry battalion.
With piercing blue eyes and a Caucasian phenotype, First Lieutenant Raiford was mistakenly considered a white man and was, subsequently, appointed to the position of a company commander. In actuality, Raiford was of European/African-American/Native American lineage. He was a four-year college graduate and spoke conversational French, Italian and German; he could also read Latin.
Read more about this topic: Rudolph Douglas Raiford
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