Black Americans in the US Military from the American Revolution to the Korean War:
The Indian Wars

The new Union army consisted of 25,000 men, one fourth its size at the end of the Civil War. Blacks numbered one in every five soldiers, and gained 13 dollars per month. At this time, receiving 13 dollars per month appealed to many Blacks, as their pay in other professions would have been much lower. Racism still existed within the new Army, and Black soldiers had to prove themselves in order to gain any respect. Many Black NCOs gained appreciation from other White officers, despite their low rank. Most of the Black soldiers to receive Medals of Honor for their fighting were NCOs.

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