Remembering the Sacrifices

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.