USS Oklahoma-- Part 4: Timeline

**  JULY 1929:  Maneuvers were greatly reduced during the Depression because of lack of fuel oil.

**  1933:  An earthquake hit Long Beach, Califirnia, while the Oklahoma was docked there.  Her crew deployed ashore to maintain order.

**  1933:  She  participated in a civil defense drill in Tacoma, Washington,  using the ship's generators to provide all electric power to the city for 24 hours.

**  JULY 1936:  Sailed to Spain to rescue American citizens and refugees during the Spanish Civil War.  While en route to France, a woman gave birth, the first time a baby was born aboard an American battleship.

**  DECEMBER 6, 1940:  Based at Pearl Harbor for patrol and exercises.

**  DECEMBER 7, 1941:  Pearl Harbor attacked by the Japanese.

--GreGen

Five Blacks Who Served in WW II That You Should Know: Edward A. Carter (1916-1963)

From the Ocober 18, 2022, Time Magazine, "5 black World War II veterans to know" by Olivia  B. Waxman.

EDWARD A. CARTER

Carter was raised in India and China and was fluent in Hindi, Mandarin and German.  He was one of about eighty Blacks who volunteered  for the Spanish Civil War against fascist General Franco, serving in an integrated unit at a time when U.S. Army units were segregated.  

Despite his language skills and combat experience overseas, the U.S. Army made him a cook in a quartermaster truck company, becoming one of many black Americans who were assigned to roles that really weren't suited to their skills set.

Black Americans were barred from combat roles, but near the end of the war,  the U.S. needed more troops for combat and asked black Americans to volunteer.  Carter did and served in the 12th Armored Division, earning a Medal of Honor, posthumously for fighting in Germany -- one of only seven black Americans to receive the award during World War II.

Of course, you might think he should have received that Medal of Honor back then and not after he died.

But, that was the way it was back then.

--GreGen