Finalist, 2023 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards"[The author] saw firsthand the unit's hardships and setbacks, but also its successes and victories. His brings this direct knowledge to bear in this detailed and fascinating look at the experiences of African American military units during the war."— WWII History Magazine

The 597th Field Artillery Battalion, 92nd Division, was the first, last, and only all-black officered direct support field artillery battalion committed to combat in the history of the U.S. Army. It was the first all-black unit in a combat division and, together with the 600th Field Artillery Battalion, constituted the only all-black units in any combat division. Alongside impressive achievements on the battlefield in Italy in 1944–45, the unit provided more key command and staff positions exclusively for black field artillery officers than any other U.S. Army unit in combat, giving combat training and experience to more senior black field artillery officers than any of the other 16 black field artillery battalions during World War II.

Colonel Wendell Derricks worked to shelter his troops from the worst of the racism exhibited during the war and, due to his ability to envision an integrated postwar army, he provided unique leadership opportunities for his senior officers. The alumni of the 597th Field Artillery Battalion have an impressive record of success, many of them were inducted into the Field Artillery Hall of Fame; some served at the Pentagon, including Lieutenant Colonel Clark; and others forged successful careers in the civilian world.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Part I: The End of Exclusion
  • 1 A Limited Opportunity
  • 2 The Opportunity Expands
• Part II: The Color Barrier—An Obstacle to Progress
  • 3 Camp Atterbury, Indiana
  • 4 Camp Robinson, Arkansas
  • 5 Fort Huachuca, Arizona
  • 6 Maneuvers in Louisiana
  • 7 Programmed for Failure
• Part III: Bridging the Obstacle
  • 8 The Tide Turns
  • 9 Going Over
• Part IV: Gaining a Foothold
  • 10 By the Sea
  • 11 In the Mountains
  • 12 Changes at the Top
  • 13 A New Year and a New Assignment
  • 14 In the Valley
  • 15 Operation Fourth Term
  • 16 The Aftermath
  • 17 On the Move
  • 18 The Enemy Withdrawal Becomes a Rout
• Part V: The Long Way Home
  • 19 Two Down and One to Go
  • 20 A Special Mission Carried out From Varazze
  • 21 Preparing for Redeployment
  • 22 Three Down and It’s Over
• Part VI: Beyond Derricks’ Diary
  • 23 Derricks’ Legacy
  • 24 A Look Both Ways
• Epilogue: A Distinguished Journey
• Appendix 1: Lineage and Battle Honors for 597th Field Artillery Battalion
• Appendix 2: Names Mentioned in the Diary
• Abbreviations
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Endnotes