In the first year of US Army occupation, both black and white soldiers were stationed at Aitutaki in about equal numbers.  At this time, segregation in the armed forces was official US policy. Desegregation did not begin to occur until after President Truman ordered that in 1948. Segregation provided the Army with a number of logistical problems anywhere black soldiers were stationed, as segregated facilities had to be provided.

 

The following Units on Aitutaki were made up of black soldiers:

                                                            Officers           Enlisted men

Btry A, 415th AAArty AWpns Bn.          6                        145

1st Plat., 417th AAArty Slt Bn.               2                        102

Det. 890th Engineers Avn. Co.              5                        178

 

Racial disharmony was prevalent back in the USA and there are numerous articles on the discrimination and prejudices that black people suffered at this time and in the years that followed.  Various news reports indicate that keeping a lid on racial tension amongst American troops stationed abroad was at times a challenge. There is evidence that even at a far-flung outpost such as Aitutaki, racial issues provided concern and logistical issues for those in command.

 

From the personal diary of Eleanor Roosevelt during her tour of US bases in August and September 1943 -

Penrhyn – 20 August 1943 – “I went through the hospital, saw the Red Cross man, the headquarters building, tents and mess hall and day room and out door theatre in a colored troop area. There seems to be no trouble anywhere out here between white and colored. They lie in beds in the same wards, go to the same movies and sit side by side and work side by side, but I don’t think I’ve seen them mess together but their food is as good and everything just as clean in their quarters. Southern and Northern negroes are in the same outfits.”

 

Aitutaki – 22 August 1943 – “The Colonel, regular army, Mass. Republican, and snobby was not pleased to see me. I’m sure he would sleep with a Maori woman but he told me he does not believe in mixed marriages, and he would like some army nurses because some of his younger officers want to marry some of the native girls. He has both white and colored troops and is much worried since he has some white southerners and he is afraid some day a white boy will find his native girl that he went out with last night is off with a colored boy the next night and there would be a shooting and a feud would start between white and colored troops. He thinks we should have all colored or all white on an island, but he owns that the colored have done very good work so he prays hell won’t break loose.”

 

“Colonel Garity spoke of a drink the natives made which they gave our men and which sent you berserk and he thought that was a factor which might bring trouble between his colored and white troops but none of the men had died of it.”

 

Colonel Garity’s concerns regarding racial tension amongst the troops on Aitutaki may have stemmed from an incident earlier in the year when a black soldier was shot dead by two white officers while allegedly attempting to break into the commissary. This is the only death of a US soldier on Aitutaki in military records to hand, but the circumstances and any details of the death are not given. It is apparent though from Walt Hadfield’s diary (24 January 1943) that the incident caused unrest and there was some fear of trouble arising from the incident.

 

It appears that racial prejudices extended beyond the US Army.  Colonel Garity made mention in his monthly base report after a visit to the New Zealand Resident Commissioner and other Government officials on Rarotonga in August 1943: “Judge Ayson and other members of the administration expressed their personal dislike for the presence of Negro Soldiers within the group. They do not wish to register anything approaching an official protest. This feeling should be considered in future reductions of the Forces and if possible the Negro troops should be eliminated.” While this is an unfortunate choice of words, it can be assumed from other recommendations and events that were to follow this report, that Colonel Garity was suggesting removal and/or replacement.

 

Overall Garrison reduction was recommended in Base report for Aitutaki 28 October 1943 as follows:

“The entire garrison should be of one color in order to allow for combining the personnel in fewer messes, quarters, etc. This will involve the following steps:

Reduce authorized strength of Hq. & Hq. Detachment.

Transfer Btry A, 415th AAArty AWpns Bn.

Transfer 1st Plat., 417th AAArty Slt Bn.

Furnish a Detachment of 14 white E.M. for Searchlight Detachment.

Reduce authorized strength of 1st Reporting Plat., 702d Sig.A.W.Co.

Transfer and replace with white personnel, the Det., 890th Engineers.” [Abridged]

 

The eventual relocation of black American soldiers originally posted at Aitutaki is uncertain. Given the usefulness that the 415th and 417th offered for anti aircraft defense, it is more than likely they were posted at airfields within the theatre of war in the north western Pacific. 

 

The detachment of 890th Engineers were posted to Fiji on 28 November 1943, and then on to New Caledonia on 18 October 1944, before eventually ending up at Tinian on 3 January 1945. [Click for link to Battle of Tinian]

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