18. Camp Benning
The Fort Benning military base was established in 1918. In August of 1920, the first African American troops were assigned to Fort Benning, they were known as the Infantry School Detachment (Colored). The African American soldiers served as “watchmen” or stable assistants for the horses of white soldiers on the military base. Other jobs that they were allowed to do included serving as janitors, truck and wagon drivers, and maintenance men. Although they were only allowed to do jobs that did not include military duties, the men took pride in being recognized military soldiers.
One of the greatest impacts of African American soldiers on the Fort Benning Camp was there service to the construction of the military base. These men built roadways and assisted in the construction of major facilities on the base, including the Post Gymnasium and Exchange, Gowdy field and the Doughboy Stadium. During this time, the base was segregated and African American soldiers were not allowed to integrate with white soldiers during various activities on the base. Many facilities on the base were off limits to back soldiers. They were even not allowed to the Post Exchange, the same place that international prisoner were allowed to enter. The Main Theatre on base was another one of these facilities. Black soldiers had to go to a separate theatre to watch films. When films with sound were released, Blacks had to continue to watch movies in silent as their theatre did not provide this updated feature. While at the base, they too had to coexist with the restrictions of segregation. The effects of racial treatment at Fort Benning has effected Columbus and surrounding counties due to its heavy influence. Today, the base has been modernized and fully integrated.
[image insert] American Soldiers at Camp Benning, Columbus, Georgia.Photograph courtesy of Billy Winn, former Editor of Columbus Ledger-Enquier 2016.
Submission composed by Jazmine Anderson, April 12, 2017
References and Further Reading
Winn, Billy. “African American Soldiers at Camp Benning”. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Accessed April 10, 2016.