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How World War II inspired America's greatest generation

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  • Description

    Wendell Pierce provides a look inside the National WWII Museum

  • Duration 3:26
  • Date

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In World War II America needed men and women to support the effort to win the war against Germany and Japan.

Americans from all racial social and economic classes.

Joint military ranks to answer the call for service New Orleans is home to the national World War II museum.

It is filled with memorabilia.

Artifacts pictures documents and films of America's greatest generation at war.

My commitment to this museum is the fact that.

I want to make sure that people's stories.

Remember.

The museum tells the real story of how all Americans had to unite together to win the war.

When those shares how the black community in the midst of struggled with segregation.

Was involved in the double -- campaign.

Victory abroad victory at home.

See this you know -- elderly African American woman her three sons.

Fighting in the military still saying you know this country is not being clear to me.

They're fighting to make sure that the -- history.

There's liberty and freedom for everybody.

Wendell personally guided me on a tour the museum the New Orleans native has a special bond to World War II.

His father -- served in the navy during the war he was just sixteen when he enlisted.

He saw action in the Pacific at Saipan.

Arriving -- -- by boat under heavy fire.

The worst -- combat for him was the mortars falling on.

-- says his dad was just one of thousands of black men who enlisted to fight for America's freedom.

Even though their personal civil liberties were not recognize -- home.

It's a legacy that.

That started long before forward to you and in in my family friends I had -- uncle who fought in World War I.

-- my -- before the reward to.

Have uncles fought in Vietnam War and then my brother went on Westport.

Well -- -- ROTC so it was.

A military legacy.

You know.

-- fighting for justice and equality.

Black troops overcame the hurdles of pride and prejudice there many acts of ballad street courage and sacrifice.

The -- for point Marines became a source of pride as the first wave of black men to be -- Marines.

Black men continue to distinguish themselves even in the air campaign is fighter pilots.

The Tuskegee airmen or notably the red tails which is the color paid -- -- -- of their planes.

-- spite of the terrorism displayed by so many blacks some found themselves maligned at home.

Windows father earned several medals -- reservist.

Only to be denied those medals by a white female officer.

There was a -- -- YX female officer.

And when he was coming out of the service he was of head of newspapers.

And so -- he told racism.

I think we receive the medal.

And he's didn't she responded you.

Possible as she dismissed and he was so offended by.

-- the curators of the national world -- TVs have investigated the matter to -- they were able to secure Amos Pierce's medals.

And presented them to -- two years ago on veterans day.

Got up -- -- you know fought for this country.

The my medals -- finally received my medals and it.

Just goes to prove to you.

This great country.

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