David Dwight Collection

David H. Dwight, Sr.

Military Service

AS A SOLDIER

The United States entered World War I in 1917. The justification for our involvement as expressed by President Woodrow Wilson and other Americans was "a crusade to make the world safe for democracy." Large numbers of African Americans, at the urging of their leaders, volunteered to fight for their country in hopes of earning a better future and full rights and citizenship in their homeland. The African American troops demonstrated their bravery, their loyalty, and their ability in combat despite being confronted with the same discrimination in the armed forces that they faced at home. They served in segregated units and were used mainly for support services. Only a small percentage was actually used in combat.

The following pictures show David H. Dwight, Sr. as a soldier in WWI. The location and regiment are unknown.

Click on an image below to see a larger version.