A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day

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A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day is a television documentary program that was produced for

.

A one-hour special, A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day told the story of

was also interviewed for the program.

Historical background

In the decades leading up to World War II, the

.

At the onset of World War II, the Army remained segregated, and with the notable exceptions of units like the

Third Army

in 1944 and 1945.

Another famous group of African American soldiers, were the drivers of the Red Ball Express, who in the months after D-Day kept allied armies supplied with ammo, gas, and food. Many of these troops would volunteer to fall in with their white comrades during the Battle of the Bulge.

The system of segregation in the United States Army would end in 1948, and by the time of the Korean War, African American and white soldiers were serving in the same front line units.

Segregation was also a factor in the

, African American sailors were generally relegated to the jobs of cooks, stewards, and other labor-intensive duties. This continued through World War II, though it is important to remember that African American sailors acquitted themselves in battle in a number of campaigns.

Before World War II the United States Marine Corps was completely segregated and did not allow African Americans to enlist in its ranks. However, in 1942 the Marines did begin inducting African Americans into segregated units. Many of these Marines would fight in Pacific battles like Iwo Jima.

The Program

Focusing exclusively on the War in Europe and the mobilization for the Normandy Invasion, A Distant Shore follows the accounts of veterans as they made their way through basic training to England, and then prepared for the landings. Stories include incidents of racism encountered at home and overseas, experiences in England, and the terror of battle on the Omaha and Utah Beaches.

Awards

On September 22, 2008, A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day received the

for Best Historical Programming - Long Form, at the 29th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards ceremony in New York. Recipients were Executive Producers Louis Tarantino, Dolores Gavin, Executive Producer and Writer Douglas Cohen, and Producer Samuel K. Dolan.

External links

• IMDb
• NPR story
• Emmy Awards information