WHITE ENLISTED MEN TOWARD
NEGRO TROOPS
ATTITUDES OF
SHARING FACILITIES WITH
BASSO OW 4 SORTEY OF REPRESKATATIVE
CROSS SbOTIONS OF THREE DIVISIONS IN NAT, 1942
RESEARCH BRANCH, SPECIAL SERVICE DIVISION
SERVICES OF SUPPLY, WAR DEPARTMENT
/
Siro Moun aiLs¥ eandobeATTITUDES OF WHITES
TOWARD SHARING FACILITIES WITH NEGROES
Army policy with respect to the Negro often must take into
account the attitudes not only of Negroes but also of white
soldiers toward Negroes.
This is a report on the attitudes of white soldiers toward
sharing facilities with Negroes. The findings may be sum-
marized as follows
4. Mite enlisted men trom the Worth chow a strong prejudice against
sharing recreation, theatre, or post exchange facilities with
Negroes.
2
As would be expoctod, the white enlieted men from the Border States
show a stronger dislike for shahing facilities with Negroes than
40 the Northerners, and the white enlisted men from the South show
the strongest dislike of all.
3. Within geographic regions there are no marked differences in avti-
tudes as becneen rural ané urban men,
4, Within regions, there are few marked differences in attituaes vy
educational levels of che men. The etter educated nay be some—
what more Liberal in attitude than men with a grade school educa-
tion onty.
5. The Uhrve divisions studied show remarkable similarity of patterns
im avticude, when men Ineach division crom the North, Border, and
South are tabulated separately.
These results are based on a survey of 2,360 enlisted men who
constitute a representative cross section of three divisions
stationed in the South. Division X is a regular infantry
division, with 51% of the troops from the Border States and
South; Division Y is an armored division, with 48% from the
Border States and South; Division Z is a National Guard Di-
vision from the North with 13% of the men from the Border
States and South. Negro troops are stationed at all three
posts, although at some distance from the white troops.
Ko eyrae CONFIDENTIAL
Wop «pqs
By AQ) ani one “/2€/]hQUESTION:
See
NonTHERK
STares
@&
vorase
stares
STATES
Cond
DECLASSIFIED
Woo <12.03
Tell .
By AQ wana’ Date /
sos:
‘The Army has not always been able to have special
FX's for Negro soldiers. Which of the following
things do you think should be done?
Negro soldiers should use the Px's for white soldters end
should receive exactly the same privileges.
Negro soldiere should be alloned to buy chings at the Px it
they don't hang around or sit down.
Negro soldiers should ve Kept out of the Px's for white
soldiers altogether.
pur’ aur
DON'T RANG AROUND
se xcrr our
EQUAL paiviteces
"Border" states include Delauare, Maryland, District of
Colundia, Firginia, West Virginia, Kentuchy, Tennessee
and Oklahoma. "South" includes all other states south
of the Nason and Dixon line.QUESTION:
@ @8en
STATES
sonore
Staves
sour enw
Saves
Cod
DECLASSIFIED
In some camps the Army cannot provide separate
Recreation Buildings and Service Clubs for Negro
and white soldiers, Which of the following things
would you do in such a case?
White and Negro soldiers should use the sane bufldings at
the same tine.
White and Negro soldiers should use the buildings at che
ame time except on dance nights.
Negro soldiers should be allowed to use Service clubs and
Recreation Sutidings but only at certain hours or on certain
tents.
The Negro soldiers shouia rind ree:
che tr own,
ation facilities of
Fino THEIR OWN Use EXcEFT ON USE
RECREATION SHOULO USE AT CERTAIN TIMES DANCE NiGHTS ALWATS
Lae tan 0.5.
AS
4G x28 vxe /2elhQUESTION:
GBS saes
WonTHeRN
STATES
&
sonner
Srares
sourneny
STATES
Cone
CONFIDENTIAL
Sometimes the Army cannot provide Negro soldiers
with Camp movie houses of their own, If you were
in one of these camps, which of the following
Practices would you recommend?
Negro soldiers should not see camp movies, but should nave
to go to town,
Negro soldiers should have spectel nights on which to see
camp movies.
Negro soldiers should dee the sane movies as the white
soldiers but sit ina section of their ovn.
Negro and white soldiers shoula be treated alike -
come, fire: served.
souls ave sriRst come,
GoTo) SPECIAL rest
‘Torn wicwrs SIT 1 SECTION OF omn staveor
Vs
2}
hae
LASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
Authority MOD 14.036 Siowrociol au webianlll
5y44) wand Dae 7/2e/]|CONFIDENTIAL
QUESTION: Should white and Negro basebell and basketball
teams compete against each other in the same post
leagues?
BD ves
® vo
NonracRN
STATES
&
sonoce
STATES
sourmenn
STATES
Gal
NOES: Aithough most Southern soldiers are opposed to conpet-
ing with Hegroes in sports, the Jortherners are rather
Mderai in their attitude, especially when compared to
their attitute on the other issues. Houevér, the type
Of soctat contact implied in this question ts quite
atfferent fron the sharing of movie houses, recreation
butldings, or Pris.
woe
CONFIDENTIAL Henne
ao
Auihority BOD 14636
vB nas dae Z/2c[]}24.8 :
vce Bl Lop 7 -
ATTITUDES ENLISTED MEN
TOWARD
NEGROES FOR AIR FORCE DUTY
BASED OF A SORTBY OF A REPRESSHEASIVE
CROSS SECTION OF 4672 WHISE ENLISTED NEE
IN 6 ABN AIR PoRCE factIoat ONES
AND 3 ARMY AIR PORCE FRAINING SCHOOLS
RESEARCH BRANCH, SPECIAL SERVICE DIVISION
SERVICES OF SUPPLY, WAR OEPARTHENT
November 30, 1942
DECLASSIFIED a
Authority WROD 13.036 SSWORY TOL Sagoo
oA sank oae (21) CONFIDENTIALATTITUDES TOWARD NEGROES
FOR AIR FORCE DUTY
Prevailing opinion among 5872 typi-
cal white enlisted men in the Air
Forces is: Train Negroes as pilots,
Dombardiers and navigators, but
segregate the Negro both in training
and in subsequent duty.
*
*
Differences in rank and amount of formal education have
little effect on the enlisted man's attitude. There is
high agreement among both Northerners and Southerners
on the policy of having Negroes trained for Air Force
duty and on segregating them. There are, as might be
expected, sharp differences between Northerners and
Southerners on the subject of working personally with
Negro soldiers.
1. Two out of three men favor training the Negro,
and only one man in ten definitely objects.
2. More than three out of four men favor separate
training schools: combat and ground crews.
3. Less than one-half the men (44%) say they have
@ personal objection to working in the sane
ground crew with Negroes. Yet two out of
three Southerners object toworking with Negro
soldiers, whereas only one out of three North-
erners objects.
DECLASSIFIED
ae Sop S2HOuy Maou a1 iv caonCOHEE
FE] wand dae ell 2NEDENTILONLY ONE MAN IN TEN IS OPPOSED TO TRAINING
NEGROES FOR ARMY AIR FORCE DUTY
FAVOR
ALL MEN 65%
NORTHERN,
MEN
SOUTHERN
MEN
NOTE: The exact question askec was:
. tNegroes are now being trained as pilots, bombardiers and navigators. How do you
feel about this? (Check one of following) Highly in fevor of it__, Moderately in
favor__, Indifferent, Opposea__, Strongly opposes.
DECLASSIFIED —
a Sl Bass ‘aa Snoumai dSRMO
wit bac 7/2¢/]] SONFIDENTIAL.SEONEIDENTIAL—
AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE MEN FEEL THAT
NEGRO AND WHITE SOLDIERS SHOULD BE SEPARATED
BOTH DURING AND AFTER TRAINING
TRAINING
SCHOOLS.
COMBAT
oREWS. 13%
GROUND
cREWS 15%
MEN FROM THE NORTH, AS WELL AS FROM THE SOUTH FAVOR SEPARATION
TRAINING SCHOOLS COMBAT CREWS GROUND CREWS
79% 92% 74% 83% 72% 81%
NOTE: The exact
Q. "Do you think that white soldiers and Negro soldiers in the Air Force should be in the
sane or separate (a) training schools? (x) combat crews? (c) ground ceewst*
DECLASSIFIED ~
Aushoriyy NOD 413036 ‘Sshlow nou au ivespouee,
By
.< Ze] 3ONABENHACONFIDENTIAL
LESS THAN HALF OF THE MEN OBJECT TO WORKING
IN THE SAME GROUND CREW WITH NEGRO SOLDIERS
ALL MEN
NORTHERN
MEN
SOUTHERN
MEN
NOTE: The exact question askee was:
@ AWoula you have any personal objection to working in the same ground crew with Kegro
soldierst (Check one of the following) Yes we__*
DECLASSIFIED —
authority HOD ‘our www avcasnooue,
64 wank due oell *ONFIDENTIAL_-RONEIDENTIAL 7
WAR DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS. ARMY SERVICE FORCES
SPSPX 330.11 WASHINGTON. B. €.
(sou 43)
15 July 1943,
MEMORANDUM FOR THE COMUNDING GENERAL, ARMY SERVICE FOROS:
Subject: quarterly report to the Chief of Staff
on factore relating to worale,
2, Tate report sunuarizes some major aspects of recent studies on the attitutes and
interests of troops, These studies are based on the statistical analysis of replize sate
anongwcusly to questions asked of thousands of soldiers, nore end abroad. In the fielé
covered, such factual evidence is nore representative, and therefore nore generally appli-
cable, then the personal inpressions of even the ost experienced observer.
2,. Our studies indicate the satisfaction of troops with muy piiysieal factors gen
erally'relstad to morale, ‘The man like their £000; they are acpreciative of the nedicel
services; they acpreciate their technical training, The picture is not eo favorable with
respect to factors less tangible bat equally inportent to morale,
3. The first section of the report shons the attitudes of the aen tonard thelr
role af soldiers, Hera we find that only tro men out of five feel that they would be sore
useful 9s soldiers than as civilian mar workers, len with doubte about the far or ebout
our Allies are more likely to orefer the role of civilian war worker, This reluctance to
be soldiers 1s greatly accontunted anong, those who are married, olde, ani those wo are
claseified a3 linited service. The general picture is made woree by the ciscorery that
the longer a private has been'in the service, the lese hs believes he can contrisute sore
ns» roldier than as a civilian mar sorser, Perhone even nore disturbing is the evidence
tant tne-longer men are in the service the less is their pride in their outfiter
4, Such attitudes nay nell be a hondicap to training and to efficiency in combats
These studies indicate the need Zor unrenitting effort to depart to the nena pride in
their service, a sense of personal participation, and a belief in the enuse for wnich they
ere fighting.’ This effort will be moat effactive if special attention ie siven to the
older, murrisd, ané limited service nen.
5. The fect that the great majority of men AW.O.L, are found at the loner educa
tional levele eurzests that the Command my desire to acqueint iteelf nore fully wita the
soecial problens of the sen with low eduestion nnd make clear to then the oenalties ine
volved for being A.¥.0.L, and the reasons for the necessary discipline.
6, The second section of tne resort deals with general problens of the soldier.
8, The favorable reaction of the nen to Amy technical schools is highly satis~
factory, and a gratifying nucher are assigned to Jobe which make use of thie special train
ing.
b, The attitudes of our troops towards our Allies in this ar must necseearily
reflect a carry-over fron civilion attituies, Yet proper attituies tovard our Allies are
esrentinl to teaz-vork in the Tar, and it 18 evident fron these studies that only the con
stant effort of the Comand can iiprove these attitudes end keeo then fron deterioratine,
tH. Gh,
F, #, OSBORK,
Brigadier Generel,
Director,
SPECIAL SERVICE DIVISION,
DECLASSIFIED
ae _SONFIDENTIAL
pee ori HOD sepz.s5 s ieteaeenit
* near ——_— ee
sy 4 vari dae ellCQMELDENTTA, f/GEI] 200 VIS PES
qaalaissv 1936
HOW THE STUDIES ARE MADE
The staff of the Research Branch of the Special Service Division
is composed of Army officers who are specialists in this field,
together with a number of civilians from leading universities and
from commercial life.
Techniques have been developed, tested and adjusted to fit the
Army's problems.
The basic steps in conducting a study are as follows:
The questionnaire is prepared in consultation with the
War Department Branches inmediately concerned. All de-
tails are worked out in advance.
2. The questionnaire is pre-tested on smaller groups to
make certain that the questions are meaningful and
understandable to the enlisted men.
3. The project is cleared for action with the Commands in
which the study is to be made.
The number of men to be surveyed is set sufficiently
large to insure statistically reliable findings.
5. The men to be surveyed are selected to insure as true
8 cross-section as possible,
The men are assembled in class rooms or mess halls,
Where they themselves--in absolute anonymity--fill in
their questionnaires. No officers are present, the
classes being conducted by trained enlisted men, The
questionnaires bear no names, serial numbers, or other
Personal identification. Ordinarily, illiterates or
men of vory low intelligence are interviewed personally
by trained enlisted men,
Other techniques, of course, are employed from time to time to
fit special needs,
COVRLDEN TIME.cowripewrs (PL 00 PN OF
nePcouero AT ne waTONL HacmNS PUES Gow uory
aaaissv1986
RACE SEPARATION IN THE ARMY
- ++ AS THE NEGRO SOLDIER SEES IT
In response to each of three questions on separation of Negroes
and whites in the Army, a minority of Negro soldiers--but a sub-
stantial minority, from $8 to 48 per cent--say they consider
some form of separation a good idea.
About half favor separate service clubs; four in ten favor
separate post exchanges.
Thirty-eight per cent believe that Negro and white soldiers
should be in separate outfits; 36 per cent believe Negro
and white soldiers should be in the same outfits; the rest
are undecided.
Many of
jegroes and some of the whites who favor separation
in the Army indicate by their comments that they are opposed to
segregation in principle. They favor separation in the Army to
avoid trouble or unpleasantness arising from race prejudice,
This point is most often made in connection with service clubs
where social relations are most important.
Negroes who oppose segregation in the Army indicate most fre~
quently that their reasons are related to the idea that we are
fighting for democracy and equality.
The longer a Negro has served in the Army, the less likely he is
to favor separation of the races.
Most favorable to racial separation in the Army are the Southern
Negroes with least education, Least favorable are the better
educated Northern Negroes.
The chart at the right presents the anewere of Negro and white
soldiers to the three questions on racial separation in the
Army.
ve
CONFIDENTIALCONFIDENTIAL
NEGRO OPINIONS
DIFFER ON RACE SEPARATION
QUESTION..."0o you think it is o good idea or apoor idea for Negro and
white soldiers to have SEPARATE SERVICE CLUBS in Army comps?"
PERCENTAGE SAYING
(ae)
NEGRO =
‘SOLDIERS: 39%
ware aes a
SOLOIERS : ii
QUESTION. . "Do you think it is a good Idea or a poor idea for white and Negro
soldiers 10 have SEPARATE PX's in Army camps?"
NeoRO
B'
SOLDIERS 48%
wire
SOLDIERS
QUESTION... “Do you think white and Negro soldiers should be in SEPARATE
OUTFITS or should they be together inthe SAME OUTFITS?”
necro
SOLDIERS
ware
SOLDIERS
DECLASSIFIED
roriy NOD «13036
Ae) vans dae aed 0RBSERIGTED
Information and Education Division Hoadquarters, Aray Service Forces
Report No, B-157 Copy No, Washington 25, D.C. 3 July 1945
Classification Canceled eP-Changed-te
By duth, of Dir., inf. @ Ba, D:
By. D.D. Be
Date___22 Sop 45.
NIONS ABOUT NEGRO INFANTRY PLATOONS IN WHITE
LS.F.
COMPANIES OF 7 DIVIstoNS
Based on survoy made in May-June, 1945, by Roscarch Branch
Information and Education Division, Headquarters,
European Thoater of Operations, under authority of
‘The Commanding General, ETOUSA
RESTRICTED: Dissémination Af Restricfod lat tend
The infofmation fontainsd dn rostricfed documofts
and the/ossontidl charae mcg rostrictéa
natoridl nay of zivon to/any porsok known to/bo in
the sfrvice of the Unitdd States And to porgons
of uAdoudted/loyalty afd discretfan who arf co-
opofating 3X GovernnoAt work, bft mill nof be con
muficated Zo tho rubfic or to tho press fxcept by
afthorizod nilitary/rublic rofations agéneios.
(Soc alof per, 1Bb/ AR-380-5/ 28 sep. £93)
RESSRIGEED
DECLASSIFIED
a 777OPINIONS ABOUT NEGRO INFANTRY PLATOONS IN WHITE
COMPANIES OF 7 DIVISIONS
What do the white company grade officers and the thite platoon
sergeants in 8.7.0, think of the conbst performance of Negro rifle
Platoons which were attached to their companies in March and ipril and
fought side by side with white platoons through VE~doy?
This question is answered by a survey, made in lete May and early
June, 1945, by personally interviewing 250 respondents, namely, all
available white company grede officers and a representative sample of
platoon sergeants in 24 companies conteining Negro platoons in several
infantry divisions, namely, the Ist, 2nd, Sth, 69th, 78th, 99th, end
lo4th, “Standardized questions were used’ in the survey, which nas con~
Gucted by five trained interviewers of the Research Branch, I and =
Division, E,7,0
In all except one of the companies visited, thé standard organi-
zation of three rifle pletoons and one heavy infantry platoon had been
augmented ty one rifle platoon of colored soldiers. The colored
Platoons were made up of men from rear echelon units who volunteered
for service with the infantry and were trained for aporoxizstely six
weeks in reinforcement depots, usually by a white officer or non-con
who later led them into combat.
In generalizing the opinions here reported, the fact that the
Negro infontrymen in these pletoons were volunteers must be kept in
mind, as must also the fact thet not sll of the platoons expericnced
heavy and arduous fighting,
LASSIFIED
Wop