Greetings to the Fort Detrick community. February is here, and I think we have had a great start to a great year so far.
We celebrate Black History Month in February and one figure whose name you may not hear as often in military circles when the subject of civil rights and equal opportunity comes up is President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As a life-long Soldier, Eisenhower knew intimately the reality of racial intolerance in the military.
As president he commanded compliance from subordinates and was able to overcome the deeply rooted racial institutions in the military establishment. By Oct. 30, 1954 the last racially segregated unit in the Armed Forces had been abolished and all federally controlled schools for military dependent children had been desegregated.
Among many other initiatives, President Eisenhower:
appointed California Governor Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Warren molded a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education, striking down public school segregation.
established the first comprehensive regulations prohibiting racial discrimination in the federal workforce.
achieved Congressional passage of the first civil rights legislation in the 82 years following Reconstruction.
sent elements of the 101st Airborne Division to carry out the mandate of the U.S. Supreme Court, when Orval Faubus of Arkansas openly defied a federal court order to integrate Little Rock Central High, an all-white high school.
worked to achieve full integration in the nation’s capital from his first day in office until the end of his administration. The President approached this task from several different angles. He appointed pro-desegregation district government officials and directed the Justice Department to argue in favor of desegregation in the Supreme Court.
The quote below was spoken by President Eisenhower on May 19, 1953 at the United Negro College Fund luncheon reflects his dedication to civil rights and equality for all.
‘‘I believe as long as we allow conditions to exist that make for second-class citizens, we are making of ourselves less than first-class citizens.”
Remember, our diversity is our strength. Be safe in all that you do.
(historical information obtained from Eisenhowermemorial.org)
Command Sgt. Maj. James Shaheen
Fort Detrick U.S. Army Garrison
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