Gordon, Benny (Oral history)

Black American NCO served with 498th Port Battalion, United States Army in GB and Normandy, France, 1944; served with 254th Tank Battalion, Third Army, United States Army in North West Europe, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Memphis and Brooklyn, United States of America, 1923-1943: family; racial segregation experienced during his education; awareness of situation in Europe; reaction to loss of school friend at Pearl Harbor, 7/12/1941. Aspects of enlistment and training with United States Army in United States of America, 1943: how Black Americans were allocated to menial tasks by United States armed forces; attitude to how Black American recruits were viewed and treated; reception procedure at Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, 1943; story of how civilians were told lies about Black American troops; character of white officers; how Black American troops were often better educated than their white officers; further administrative training. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as NCO with 498th Port Battalion, United States Army in GB, 1944: voyage on troopship from United States of America to GB; American opinion of British Army troops; arrival in Liverpool and move to tented accommodation near Grimsby; how dance was cancelled by United States Red Cross; organisation of dance with British girls; question of how Black American troops were not allowed to marry; attitude of British male civilians towards Americans in general; question of bragging nature of white American troops; story of own romance with a mixed race English woman; administrative duties; General George S Patton's call for Black front line troops; arrest of Black Americans for insubordination; preparations for invasion of Europe. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 498th Port Battalion in Normandy, France, 1944: landing on Omaha Beach, 6/1944; sight of dead bodies and destruction on beach; discovery of human remains in convent; attitude of French civilians; question of false accusations of rape against Black American in France. Aspects of operations as NCO with 254th Tank Battalion, Third Army, United States Army in France and Germany, 1944-1945: rapid moves to keep up with Third Army; devastation caused by 'basket concept'; relations with German civilians; his administration role in Germany; role of Black American troops with Red Ball Express; prior recollection of signing up for course at Balliol College, University of Oxford in GB, 1944 REEL 4 Continues: prior recollection of attending week long course at Balliol College, University of Oxford in GB, 1944; description of attending academic course in Biarritz in France after end of Second World War. Reflections on civil rights situation in United States of America, post-1945: story of how he gained university education from GI Bill; elements of post-war racist attitudes in United States of America and the stance he took; how the Second World War helped raise Black consciousness and the civil rights movement.