Honoring African-American contributions to D-Day served two AARP goals

An AARP-sponsored tour of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford combined two AARP goals: supporting veterans and observing Black History Month.

The tour paid special attention to the contributions of African-Americans to the massive military operation that occurred while segregation permeated many of their lives both back home and within the military itself.

John Long, the memorial’s director of education, said the service and sacrifices of those African American troops were often overlooked and have been largely untold.

“Many people do not know anything about this story and for that matter, about other minorities in World War II. Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans. We try to tell a little bit of all of it, a well-rounded [account] so that people will understand why this war helped shape of American society so much.”

Virtually all of Operation Overlord’s front-line soldiers were white, but Long pointed to the contributions of African-American support units like the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, charged with raising low-level balloons on Omaha and Utah beaches to defend U.S. soldiers from German aircraft strafing.

The heroism displayed by one member of that battalion in particular went largely unrecognized for decades.

Waverly Woodson is credited for saving as many as 200 lives, often under intense fire, as a combat medic who landed at Omaha Beach. It was not until recent years that he posthumously received several military honors including the Distinguished Service Cross.

Among those taking the tour were 10 members of St. Paul Baptist Church in Forest.

Ron Bryant said it meant a lot to learn more of such contributions to the war effort, especially coming at a time when African-Americans were treated as second-class citizens at home.

“As I grew up in Bedford County, I knew of several individuals who were inducted into the military during World War II, and both of the two that I'm familiar with were actually in combat areas, but they were relegated to duties involving airfield preparation and digging ditches,” Bryant said.

AARP Associate State Director Brian Jacks said this was just one of several related Virginia events in February.

“AARP Virginia is pleased to have had the opportunity to offer in-person tours across the commonwealth in support of Black History Month,” Jacks said. "It has been wonderful to see people of all ages coming together to learn about aspects of our nation's history which sometimes are overlooked. I hope others make the effort to visit the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford and (learn about) the critical contributions African American soldiers offered that day.”

A few websites AARP has created to assist veteran and military families (VFM) include:
aarp.org/VetsHealthNavigator
aarp.org/VetsJobCenter
aarp.org/VetsFraudCenter