On July 26, 1948, US President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services for people of all races.

The operative statement is:

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.

The order also established a committee to investigate and make recomendations to the civilian leadership of the military to realize the policy.

The last of the all black units in the United States military was abolished in September of 1954. Fifteen years after Truman's order, on July 26, 1963 Robert S. McNamara issued orders banning all racial discrimination in facilities used by soldiers, in or near military bases.

External links

• View the Order on the Harry S. Truman Library Website (http://www.trumanlibrary.org/9981.htm)