A Statistic that an Ordinary Person just does not Think About

 

Photo: WWII Museum

My grandfather (maternal) was a proud U.S. Marine until he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary a few years ago.  Each morning he was up early for a shave and cigarette along with a shower and then off to breakfast.  The breakfast routine was not from the military but from his Mother raising him in hotel rooms early on in life.  As she was a wedding/event planner for high-end hotels in Los Angeles.

One of the most interesting stories that my grandfather shared with me traveling back from Iwo Jima was being stuck in the lower ship levels with African American soldiers -- fellow marines.  He was not much of a gambler but was respected for the wounds in a battle that he had received.  Therefore, he survived a rough few weeks as the only white male in a lower deck with minority leadership.

At first sight, he remarked to his white sergeants ... "I will die down there" due to the segregated environments at the time.  My grandfather was a loving (freemason) with a heart the size of planet Earth.  As I mentioned, he thought that the trip was unsurvivable due to segregation.  One afternoon, he got to leave the ship to go to a 'freemason' ceremony.  Don't ask me how he got this permission. 

He asked his fellow deck mates what they would like him to bring them if possible.  He managed to sneak on some liquor and pineapple juice aboard.  For this, he was welcome in an unwelcoming environment due to the racial segregation at the time.  He has never held a racist bone in his body.

Why do I bring this up now?  

Aside from the racial tensions across America, I read a story in The New York Times which blew my mind.  The story is titled "The Few, the Proud, the White: The Marine Corps Balks at Promoting Generals of Color" which is centered around the fact that the U.S. Marine Corp is the only force that has not had a minority in a top leadership position in it's entire existence.  What?

The story is written around the potential promotion of Col. Anthony Henderson who has received more than enough accommodations to become a 'General' in the system.  Surprisingly enough, the U.S. Marines have given one-, two-, and three-star General to minorities.  But exclusively in positions that would be a ceiling for the soldiers.  Meaning that the top of their careers had been met.  No further promotion was possible.

The sneaky nature of promotions in the military often results in resentments among soldiers.  Very often soldiers will point out the disparity between soldiers of different caliber who are promoted that do not necessarily deserve the promotion but receive one due to 'affirmative action' -- the silent and invisible equalizer.  Although, that is often not the case, but hard to accept for either side.   The last two sentences are directly from my time serving in the United States Air Force.  

I watched the promotion pass different people on by.  Rumors circulated and are often left to circulate among soldiers.  The last lawsuit any military service needs is a discrimination lawsuit.  Racial issues are tightly controlled in the military services.  And rightfully so.  Service before self.

Conclusion:

With that being said, the fact that a minority has never attained a top leadership role in the U.S. Marines is surprising and disturbing to say the least.  I am sure that there have been more qualified minority soldiers in the past.  What the exact reason is we might never know?  But I strongly suspect that the issue of race looms large in leadership roles.

Which is surprising to me since General Colin Powell is an example of a stellar leader both in Military and Civilian leadership roles?  I will say something that I thought that I would not ever say: Come on Marines catch up with current times.