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Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War
The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history—a story that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-Day have gone unrecognized to this day.
In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African-American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive. The nation’s highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II.
Drawing on newly uncovered military records and dozens of original interviews with surviving members of the 320th and their families, Linda Hervieux tells the story of these heroic men charged with an extraordinary mission, whose contributions to one of the most celebrated events in modern history have been overlooked. Members of the 320th—Wilson Monk, a jack-of-all-trades from Atlantic City; Henry Parham, the son of sharecroppers from rural Virginia; William Dabney, an eager 17-year-old from Roanoke, Virginia; Samuel Mattison, a charming romantic from Columbus, Ohio—and thousands of other African Americans were sent abroad to fight for liberties denied them at home. In England and Europe, these soldiers discovered freedom they had not known in a homeland that treated them as second-class citizens—experiences they carried back to America, fueling the budding civil rights movement.
In telling the story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, Hervieux offers a vivid account of the tension between racial politics and national service in wartime America, and a moving narrative of human bravery and perseverance in the face of injustice.
In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African-American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive. The nation’s highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II.
Drawing on newly uncovered military records and dozens of original interviews with surviving members of the 320th and their families, Linda Hervieux tells the story of these heroic men charged with an extraordinary mission, whose contributions to one of the most celebrated events in modern history have been overlooked. Members of the 320th—Wilson Monk, a jack-of-all-trades from Atlantic City; Henry Parham, the son of sharecroppers from rural Virginia; William Dabney, an eager 17-year-old from Roanoke, Virginia; Samuel Mattison, a charming romantic from Columbus, Ohio—and thousands of other African Americans were sent abroad to fight for liberties denied them at home. In England and Europe, these soldiers discovered freedom they had not known in a homeland that treated them as second-class citizens—experiences they carried back to America, fueling the budding civil rights movement.
In telling the story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, Hervieux offers a vivid account of the tension between racial politics and national service in wartime America, and a moving narrative of human bravery and perseverance in the face of injustice.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2015
238 people are currently reading
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About the author
Linda Hervieux
1 book22 followersLinda Hervieux is a journalist and photographer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, the New York Daily News, and Fodor’s Paris, among other publications. A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, she lived in Brooklyn for many years before moving to Paris, France, with her husband. This is her first book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 26, 2015
I received an uncorrected proof copy of this book from HarperCollins.
Linda Hervieux has managed to shed light on a group of American heroes that sadly truly were nearly forgotten in this new work of non-fiction. In it, the author tells the story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African American soldiers, who assisted in deterring enemy aircraft on the beaches of France. Despite their heroic actions, most of these men were never awarded medals, are never represented even in fictional portrayals of D-Day, and returned home to a country that promptly regulated them to basically second class citizenship due to their race - many even struggled to be given the benefits supposedly open to them through the GI bill.
Hervieux did an excellent job of not only describing these men's war efforts, but setting the scene to show it was remarkable that they were even given the responsibility of the barrage balloons. At the time, in the 1940s, most black men in the armed forces were relegated to menial tasks. In 1925, the Army released a study that helps depict how African American soldiers were viewed: "He has not the physical courage of the white. He simply cannot control himself in fear of some danger in the degree that the white man can. His psychology is such that he willingly accepts hard labor and for this reason can be well employed in labor troops or other non-combatant branches" (27). Although somewhat welcomed in the army, black were excluded from the marines, only allowed to work as servants in the navy, and completely excluded form the Army Air Corps, the forerunner to the air force (39).
The 320th were trained at Camp Tyson in Tennessee, where many of these northern men faced Jim Crow racism of the South for the first time. German prisoners of war were welcomed into restaurants where blacks were excluded. The very sight of African American men in uniform and standing at attention - "a pose of strength, dignity and pride" - was deeply offensive to white southerners. Yet when they arrived in Britain, the men were astounded to be treated as equal with whites for the first time - they were invited to British home for dinner and were welcomed in British restaurants, pubs, and churches - here they "were Americans first" (158). This caused racial tensions between white and black American soldiers to escalate, contributing to anxiety from British officials, who resented Americans importing their racial issues to Britain. In fact, the polite demeanor and general appreciation for equal treatment led their hosts to say, "the general consensus of opinion seems to be that the only American soldiers with decent manners are the Negroes" (155).
In addition to shedding light on men worthy of our recognition and respect, I enjoyed learning about the use of barrage balloons, which I had never studied in detail before. Hervieux reports that she had difficulty finding information on wartime balloons "because there are so few people alive today who know anything about them" (271). Apparently the first balloon was used in a military sense by Napoleon in 1794. Balloons were used in the second world war to effectively keep planes away from a target. "As a defensive barrier, a curtain of balloons flying in a staggered sawtooth pattern forced pilots higher, fouling the aim of their bombs. Flying higher also made those planes better targets for the big guns on the ground" (67). Early balloons were also filled with hydrogen, which would explode when a plane collided with it and their cables held bombs that were triggered when planes came in contact with them.
Hervieux embarked on this research in the nick of time - only a few men from the 320th were still alive when she began locating them. I feel grateful that she was able to interview some of the men and finally shed light on their contributions to ending World War II - like Waverly Woodson, who worked thirty hours straight as a medic on the beaches of Omaha before collapsing. When he woke up, he asked to go back to keep helping.
At times I did feel like this book was merely plumbing the surface of the 320th's stories. I would love to have had more accounts of the individual men, although this was likely complicated by many having passed away by the time of writing. However, overall this was an excellent read about a sorely undocumented part of our history.
Linda Hervieux has managed to shed light on a group of American heroes that sadly truly were nearly forgotten in this new work of non-fiction. In it, the author tells the story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African American soldiers, who assisted in deterring enemy aircraft on the beaches of France. Despite their heroic actions, most of these men were never awarded medals, are never represented even in fictional portrayals of D-Day, and returned home to a country that promptly regulated them to basically second class citizenship due to their race - many even struggled to be given the benefits supposedly open to them through the GI bill.
Hervieux did an excellent job of not only describing these men's war efforts, but setting the scene to show it was remarkable that they were even given the responsibility of the barrage balloons. At the time, in the 1940s, most black men in the armed forces were relegated to menial tasks. In 1925, the Army released a study that helps depict how African American soldiers were viewed: "He has not the physical courage of the white. He simply cannot control himself in fear of some danger in the degree that the white man can. His psychology is such that he willingly accepts hard labor and for this reason can be well employed in labor troops or other non-combatant branches" (27). Although somewhat welcomed in the army, black were excluded from the marines, only allowed to work as servants in the navy, and completely excluded form the Army Air Corps, the forerunner to the air force (39).
The 320th were trained at Camp Tyson in Tennessee, where many of these northern men faced Jim Crow racism of the South for the first time. German prisoners of war were welcomed into restaurants where blacks were excluded. The very sight of African American men in uniform and standing at attention - "a pose of strength, dignity and pride" - was deeply offensive to white southerners. Yet when they arrived in Britain, the men were astounded to be treated as equal with whites for the first time - they were invited to British home for dinner and were welcomed in British restaurants, pubs, and churches - here they "were Americans first" (158). This caused racial tensions between white and black American soldiers to escalate, contributing to anxiety from British officials, who resented Americans importing their racial issues to Britain. In fact, the polite demeanor and general appreciation for equal treatment led their hosts to say, "the general consensus of opinion seems to be that the only American soldiers with decent manners are the Negroes" (155).
In addition to shedding light on men worthy of our recognition and respect, I enjoyed learning about the use of barrage balloons, which I had never studied in detail before. Hervieux reports that she had difficulty finding information on wartime balloons "because there are so few people alive today who know anything about them" (271). Apparently the first balloon was used in a military sense by Napoleon in 1794. Balloons were used in the second world war to effectively keep planes away from a target. "As a defensive barrier, a curtain of balloons flying in a staggered sawtooth pattern forced pilots higher, fouling the aim of their bombs. Flying higher also made those planes better targets for the big guns on the ground" (67). Early balloons were also filled with hydrogen, which would explode when a plane collided with it and their cables held bombs that were triggered when planes came in contact with them.
Hervieux embarked on this research in the nick of time - only a few men from the 320th were still alive when she began locating them. I feel grateful that she was able to interview some of the men and finally shed light on their contributions to ending World War II - like Waverly Woodson, who worked thirty hours straight as a medic on the beaches of Omaha before collapsing. When he woke up, he asked to go back to keep helping.
At times I did feel like this book was merely plumbing the surface of the 320th's stories. I would love to have had more accounts of the individual men, although this was likely complicated by many having passed away by the time of writing. However, overall this was an excellent read about a sorely undocumented part of our history.
April 1, 2016
This is an excellent read of the exploration of discrimination towards blacks in the military as well as highlighting the extraordinary men from the 320 Balloon Barrage Battalion. They may have been forgotten at some point bu this book certainly honors them and educates us all on their bravery during the war and at home. This is a must read!
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March 26, 2022
Good, but nowhere near as focused nor personal as the subtitle claims. Mainly focused on the history of war-ballooning & racial injustices in the American South. And if i'm honest, the supposed "untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War" seems mainly to be a very, very thin framing device to justify chapters-upon-chapters about the history of ballooning, especially in wartime.
June 25, 2016
While having some knowledge of the horrors of Jim Crow, I did not know much about the thousand of African American soldiers who served in WWII until I saw a TV film on the Tuskegee Airman in the late 90s. Even thought I was an Air Force brat, I don't remember seeing many black people at any of the bases except as Mess Sgts. and working as cooks and servers...as a child I didn't think much about it. I was familiar with the difference between the way blacks were treated in the late 50s, even in California, having friends who attended Grant High School in Sacramento, a run down school w/no A/C, used text books that were shabby and not enough to assign every student, no amenities or science labs, minimal sports equipment where the High school in or neighborhood had A/C, great labs with every type of equipment, competition swimming pool, wonderful library, plenty of staff and counselors and every bell and whistle.
So this book was a real eye opener on how entrenched Jim Crow racism was in the Armed Services and how horrifically black soldiers were treated by the white officers who they were assigned to, and the violence white soldiers and MP visited upon them, both at home and in England as they trained for D`Day.
The stories of the men of the 320th Balloon Brigade, and others who served in Patton's tank division and the 92nd Infantry and other units and how even their presence was erased from history was painful to discover so many years after they for the most part have been long gone from this earth caused me actual pain for their mistreatment and the indignities they suffered, even post war.
Hervieux has painted well the experiences they endured both at home and in war. It is worrying that this still was the pattern in Korea and Vietnam, long after most of us thought it had been addressed.
Today's Army offers minorities probably more room for advancement than is available in many civilian areas of this country, where bigotry and discrimination still takes a toll on non-whites...
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, war or politics as we still live in a world were we see voter suppression and open expressions of hatred that no amount of facts to the contrary seems to be able to diminish. A belated thanks to the families of these brave men who served and sacrificed in ways beyond imagining.
So this book was a real eye opener on how entrenched Jim Crow racism was in the Armed Services and how horrifically black soldiers were treated by the white officers who they were assigned to, and the violence white soldiers and MP visited upon them, both at home and in England as they trained for D`Day.
The stories of the men of the 320th Balloon Brigade, and others who served in Patton's tank division and the 92nd Infantry and other units and how even their presence was erased from history was painful to discover so many years after they for the most part have been long gone from this earth caused me actual pain for their mistreatment and the indignities they suffered, even post war.
Hervieux has painted well the experiences they endured both at home and in war. It is worrying that this still was the pattern in Korea and Vietnam, long after most of us thought it had been addressed.
Today's Army offers minorities probably more room for advancement than is available in many civilian areas of this country, where bigotry and discrimination still takes a toll on non-whites...
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, war or politics as we still live in a world were we see voter suppression and open expressions of hatred that no amount of facts to the contrary seems to be able to diminish. A belated thanks to the families of these brave men who served and sacrificed in ways beyond imagining.
July 1, 2019
Wow! What a well written, interesting, and critically important book. The story of blacks in America is highlighted by the story of black people in the US Army during WWII. Anyone interested in our history - or our present - should read this book.
March 8, 2018
This is a decent book about the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, who were the only African American soldiers to see action on D-Day.
In the foreword, the author states that historians told her “you won’t find enough to write a book about them.” Well the historian was right.
This book dives deeper into the racism through Jim Crow laws of the day and how life in the military and outside the military was like. While this is a very important topic that needs more light shed on it, I was hoping for more about the brave men of the 320th rather than a history of racism and a history of war balloons.
In my opinion, the book is partially slow and repetitive until the 320th ships off to Britain. Then it picks up and becomes a quick read
In the foreword, the author states that historians told her “you won’t find enough to write a book about them.” Well the historian was right.
This book dives deeper into the racism through Jim Crow laws of the day and how life in the military and outside the military was like. While this is a very important topic that needs more light shed on it, I was hoping for more about the brave men of the 320th rather than a history of racism and a history of war balloons.
In my opinion, the book is partially slow and repetitive until the 320th ships off to Britain. Then it picks up and becomes a quick read
September 9, 2021
Finished Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War the 2015 non fiction book by Linda Hervieux and I’m outraged. Imagine being a black soldier on Omaha Beach, dodging German bullets and mortars, fighting for democracy, yet enduring the worst of segregation at home and on southern military bases, subject to Jim Crow laws, "separate but equal" entertainment and PX’s, denied whites only privileges that were permitted to German POW's, tyrannical southern white officers, getting better treatment on the British Isles than home, denied promotions and medals readily available for the same actions as white soldiers. And yet they served and in many cases valiantly.
July 13, 2021
This was a very humbling read. I am so glad we rose above the Jim Crow era. Heroes come in all colors!
July 19, 2020
Forgotten. Where were the black soldiers on Omaha Beach. There were none in the movie Saving Private Ryan but they were there. Their weapon was the barrage balloon which shows up in all of the pictures and movies. They were the silent defense. The function of the barrage balloon was to deter low altitude aerial attacks with offensive weapons including bombs and machine guns. Linda Hervieux’s first book is such an interesting story. How do you spend 300 pages telling the story of barrage balloons? Include the history of balloons in warfare and detailed background on Operation Overlord. Linda’s story is not a white washed one of flawless success and predestined victory. D-Day was real; there were many failures but victory was possible because of the resolve of the soldiers, sailors and airmen. Linda’s book is not just a D-Day book. It is the story of the 320th barrage balloon battalion which was one of 4 all black battalions that trained in Fort Tyson Tennessee and the only one to go ashore on D-Day. Her book tells the awful story of Jim Crow racism that was prevalent in the civilian and military in WWII. Black soldiers were excluded from USO clubs, training and advancement. US black soldiers were denied access to restaurants that served white German prisoners of wars. Black soldiers were denied medals and other service recognition. And returning black veterans were denied the benefits of the GI bill and job opportunities that led to the post war expansion of the white middle class. They fought for a freedom that was not theirs. Linda tells the story that the US military exported this racism in defense of the vastly more color blind allied countries which rejected the US treatment of its own black soldiers. Thank you to Linda for a job very well done. We have come a long way and still have a long way to go. Jim
December 10, 2021
As an amateur military historian, I'm always looking for a book that will expand what I know about the subject. This book, which centers on an all black unit that handled barrage balloons at the D-Day invasion. This book did two things: 1-it enlightened me. 2-it angered me. As a veteran, the way these men, drafted by a government that kowtowed to the Southern Politicians and Southerners, keeping the army Jim Crow so as not to offend these beacons of civility (most of the bases were in the South but the North wasn't much better). Reading this I learned interesting things like: the segregated army put southern non-coms and officers, 90 percent of who were brutal, the armies thinking that the "po black boys needed discipline becuz they was lazy and slow-witted." This foolish attitude, in place for years came from southerners biggest fear of black and whites marrying. Imagine traveling on a train through the south, and having to keep the curtains closed because cracker southerners would SHOOT AT YOU, men and women going to save the world for a Democracy that didn't count them! I have nothing but respect for these men, many of whom didn't hold an evil thought for the government that drafted them, and didn't want them, resigning them to the most menial of tasks, with only a few given combat. The book is well written and researched, and I flew through it. The author should be commended for her research and bringing this enlightening and terrible part of history to light. Well worth reading.
August 15, 2020
This is a quick book that does a great job telling the individual stories of some men in this unit before, during, and after the war. It’s also a great history of Black America fighting men and the history of ballons in warfare. Inspiring, infuriating, and exciting history. German prisoners of war could eat places where black soldiers could not! White southerners are the villains of American history! They tried to export Jim Crow to Britain! The most important parts of this forgotten history are the mis-treatment of black soldiers in America during war time, and the very different treatment in Britain.
What I learned: There was a black panther tank battalion. The word “blimp” is onomatopoeic to the sound made if you flick one. Goodyear made airships for WWI. Runaway barrage balloons could cause blackouts, train wrecks, and other mayhem. Harry S. Truman said “this shit has to stop” in 1946, after a returning black veteran was blinded by southern police. The army wasn’t completely integrated until 1954.
What I learned: There was a black panther tank battalion. The word “blimp” is onomatopoeic to the sound made if you flick one. Goodyear made airships for WWI. Runaway barrage balloons could cause blackouts, train wrecks, and other mayhem. Harry S. Truman said “this shit has to stop” in 1946, after a returning black veteran was blinded by southern police. The army wasn’t completely integrated until 1954.
February 20, 2016
Linda Hervieux spoke at the American Library in Paris on February 2. I was immediately hooked. So hooked that I got the e-book edition even though I'm ordering the paper book for our library and so my husband will read it. I've since also ordered a copy for my aunt and uncle; he's a veteran as was his father, my grandfather, and an avid reader of anything concerning WWII.
The story is well told. Sometimes, I felt we were too much into background and I was itching to get on with the story, but the more I read, the more I appreciated having all the background information. We did not learn any of it in classes in the 60s. These men deserve proper recognition.
I have visted the author's website and it contains much additional material, including videos of interviews with some of the men.
The story is well told. Sometimes, I felt we were too much into background and I was itching to get on with the story, but the more I read, the more I appreciated having all the background information. We did not learn any of it in classes in the 60s. These men deserve proper recognition.
I have visted the author's website and it contains much additional material, including videos of interviews with some of the men.
August 29, 2023
This is a simply amazing book with great details about Black soldiers and their experience during WW II that might have remained hidden if the author had not disclosed them. I read a lot of historical accounts about WW II and have seen a lot of movies about the war but most remained completely void of accounts of combat by the Black soldiers. It's a sad travesty that should continue to be corrected to point out the true accomplishments of these soldiers, sailors, and airmen fighting for a country that was openly discriminatory, segregated, and racist to the extent that it was ever-present in the military that was supposed to be fighting for a common cause...FREEDOM. I learned so much from this book and applaud Linda Hervieux for the historical expose'.
September 30, 2023
Great History Revealed
Excellent book. At first you may wonder why it takes so long to get to the war contributions of the black soldiers. However, this is because the context of their environment is vitally important to understanding how incredibly brave these men were with the SIGNIFICANT racial obstacles they had to endure. Thanks to the author. I went to France and visited the Normandy Beach for the Omaha operation and it makes this even more special. No one talks about the contributions of black soldiers in the success of the invasion of Normandy. Without this book I would have never known SMH. The fact that there are no black soldiers in the movie Saving Private Ryan is crazy.
Excellent book. At first you may wonder why it takes so long to get to the war contributions of the black soldiers. However, this is because the context of their environment is vitally important to understanding how incredibly brave these men were with the SIGNIFICANT racial obstacles they had to endure. Thanks to the author. I went to France and visited the Normandy Beach for the Omaha operation and it makes this even more special. No one talks about the contributions of black soldiers in the success of the invasion of Normandy. Without this book I would have never known SMH. The fact that there are no black soldiers in the movie Saving Private Ryan is crazy.
December 7, 2015
Linda Hervieux brings to life the heroism of 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, an all-black squadron of soldiers who battled racism at home before and after helping save the free world on the beaches of Normandy. The book, propelled by an historian's penchant for unearthing long-lost documents and a journalist's knack for weaving a compelling, people-driven narrative, relays the saga of these brave men with the dignity they deserve and the full context the story demands. She's revived a chapter of American history too long ignored and now, thanks to her excellent work, too powerful to be forgotten.
May 13, 2020
As well as telling the history of the use of balloons in war - Civil War spy balloons, anyone? This tells the awful history of racism in the U.S. and how these men fought for their country that hated them. It's painful and eye-opening. Everyone should read it. It wraps up nicely with the real story of the 320th who stormed the beaches of Normandy, helping in every way that they could, including sending balloon barrages into the sky to thwart enemy aircraft. It left me questioning WHY we didn't learn about these men in history class. I'm so very glad I found this book and read about these amazing men. Highly recommend!
September 16, 2015
Today's post is on Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux. It is 368 pages long including notes and published by HarperCollins. The cover is a picture of Normandy beach with soldiers on it and three balloons in the background. The intended reader is someone interested in World War 2, history, and African Americans. There is language, no sex, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history—a story that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-Day have gone unrecognized to this day.In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African-American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive. The nation’s highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II.Drawing on newly uncovered military records and dozens of original interviews with surviving members of the 320th and their families, Linda Hervieux tells the story of these heroic men charged with an extraordinary mission, whose contributions to one of the most celebrated events in modern history have been overlooked. Members of the 320th—Wilson Monk, a jack-of-all-trades from Atlantic City; Henry Parham, the son of sharecroppers from rural Virginia; William Dabney, an eager 17-year-old from Roanoke, Virginia; Samuel Mattison, a charming romantic from Columbus, Ohio—and thousands of other African Americans were sent abroad to fight for liberties denied them at home. In England and Europe, these soldiers discovered freedom they had not known in a homeland that treated them as second-class citizens—experiences they carried back to America, fueling the budding civil rights movement.In telling the story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, Hervieux offers a vivid account of the tension between racial politics and national service in wartime America, and a moving narrative of human bravery and perseverance in the face of injustice.
Review- Hervieux brings the story of African Americans in American war to the front with this book. That is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. It is good because she gives a good overview of the service that African Americans have done for America. But it is bad because it over shadows the story of these soldiers in WW2. When Haerieux is giving the story of the men that she interviews I really enjoyed this book but she including a thirty-five page account about the history of ballooning I did not. When she talked about what Monk and Parham and Mattison and the other soldiers had to deal with during their daily lives and during the war itself, it was moving and made me angry. But Herieux has too many tangents. She goes too many places. I wanted more from the interviews she had with the men but we only really get one. That said when she is on target, this is a very moving and interesting book. I want Herieux to write more but I want her to be concise.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I was given a copy of this book by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
From the back of the book- The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history—a story that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-Day have gone unrecognized to this day.In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African-American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive. The nation’s highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II.Drawing on newly uncovered military records and dozens of original interviews with surviving members of the 320th and their families, Linda Hervieux tells the story of these heroic men charged with an extraordinary mission, whose contributions to one of the most celebrated events in modern history have been overlooked. Members of the 320th—Wilson Monk, a jack-of-all-trades from Atlantic City; Henry Parham, the son of sharecroppers from rural Virginia; William Dabney, an eager 17-year-old from Roanoke, Virginia; Samuel Mattison, a charming romantic from Columbus, Ohio—and thousands of other African Americans were sent abroad to fight for liberties denied them at home. In England and Europe, these soldiers discovered freedom they had not known in a homeland that treated them as second-class citizens—experiences they carried back to America, fueling the budding civil rights movement.In telling the story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, Hervieux offers a vivid account of the tension between racial politics and national service in wartime America, and a moving narrative of human bravery and perseverance in the face of injustice.
Review- Hervieux brings the story of African Americans in American war to the front with this book. That is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. It is good because she gives a good overview of the service that African Americans have done for America. But it is bad because it over shadows the story of these soldiers in WW2. When Haerieux is giving the story of the men that she interviews I really enjoyed this book but she including a thirty-five page account about the history of ballooning I did not. When she talked about what Monk and Parham and Mattison and the other soldiers had to deal with during their daily lives and during the war itself, it was moving and made me angry. But Herieux has too many tangents. She goes too many places. I wanted more from the interviews she had with the men but we only really get one. That said when she is on target, this is a very moving and interesting book. I want Herieux to write more but I want her to be concise.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I was given a copy of this book by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2015
Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Forgotten, The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux.
Sometimes the most heroic stories are those you don’t hear about, those held in the hearts of the men who lived them. In Forgotten, The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux, we are introduced to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. With a time of war and especially the fateful landing on a French beach Normandy there are many unsung heroes, those who willingly gave their lives to save the lives of the many.
The 320th Balloon Battalion was a unit of African American soldiers who also landed on the beach—their job—to use their curtain of armed balloons and deter enemy aircraft.
With the discovery of military records and the interviews of the last of the survivors, Hervieux has given us a look into the lives of those who served anonymously. While known and respected for their work, they were nonetheless ostracized by other U. S. battalions for race was still a major issue. Lacking freedom from their home in the U.S. the treatment and friendship they garnered in England and most of Europe opened their eyes to the way things could be if equality could really happen for them.
This work draws on the life of Wilson Monk, Henry Parham, William Dabney, Samuel Mattison and thousands of other sent abroad to fight for the liberties they were not yet afforded in their own country. These very experiences they carried back added fuel to the civil rights of the time.
As Hervieus tells the story of this group of freedom fighters she also imbues the work with the tensions of the racial politics of the time as well as the human bravery for a group fighting for freedom and for many giving up their lives for something they had yet to earn for themselves. For these veterans most of their stories remained unheard for the depth of danger and anguish made the retelling difficult.
As Hervieus tracks the stories through the lead up and aftermath of the Normandy landing you get a visual picture of the situations as well as the danger involved. Yet this team of amazing individuals were a very necessary part of taking the beach that day, and the trail of searching for them and getting the stories from the survivors and their families, as well as the few records, we once again see the courage and brilliance of their actions and how their heroism helped to fuel as well as inflame the civil rights movement that came after.
If you enjoy history and works about D-Day, and just getting to know more about the differing views of occurrences and as well as the lives and faces belonging to the Barrage Balloon Battalion you will find this a great work.
This would be a great work for a book club or reading group with a great deal of detail to discuss.
Sometimes the most heroic stories are those you don’t hear about, those held in the hearts of the men who lived them. In Forgotten, The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux, we are introduced to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. With a time of war and especially the fateful landing on a French beach Normandy there are many unsung heroes, those who willingly gave their lives to save the lives of the many.
The 320th Balloon Battalion was a unit of African American soldiers who also landed on the beach—their job—to use their curtain of armed balloons and deter enemy aircraft.
With the discovery of military records and the interviews of the last of the survivors, Hervieux has given us a look into the lives of those who served anonymously. While known and respected for their work, they were nonetheless ostracized by other U. S. battalions for race was still a major issue. Lacking freedom from their home in the U.S. the treatment and friendship they garnered in England and most of Europe opened their eyes to the way things could be if equality could really happen for them.
This work draws on the life of Wilson Monk, Henry Parham, William Dabney, Samuel Mattison and thousands of other sent abroad to fight for the liberties they were not yet afforded in their own country. These very experiences they carried back added fuel to the civil rights of the time.
As Hervieus tells the story of this group of freedom fighters she also imbues the work with the tensions of the racial politics of the time as well as the human bravery for a group fighting for freedom and for many giving up their lives for something they had yet to earn for themselves. For these veterans most of their stories remained unheard for the depth of danger and anguish made the retelling difficult.
As Hervieus tracks the stories through the lead up and aftermath of the Normandy landing you get a visual picture of the situations as well as the danger involved. Yet this team of amazing individuals were a very necessary part of taking the beach that day, and the trail of searching for them and getting the stories from the survivors and their families, as well as the few records, we once again see the courage and brilliance of their actions and how their heroism helped to fuel as well as inflame the civil rights movement that came after.
If you enjoy history and works about D-Day, and just getting to know more about the differing views of occurrences and as well as the lives and faces belonging to the Barrage Balloon Battalion you will find this a great work.
This would be a great work for a book club or reading group with a great deal of detail to discuss.
November 22, 2024
Forgotten is an awesome book. The author did an outstanding job of describing the conditions under which black soldiers had to endure during World War II. Her description of the treatment that they received at home in the United States was horrendous at best and it wasn’t helpful that some of our leading generals were largely to blame.
What I enjoyed was reading about how white English citizens treated black soldiers with total respect when they landed in England and the United Kingdom. She also described the situation that occurred in World War I in which the French also treated black troops with respect and dignity.
It is with that most respect that I recommend the black soldiers who would park at the 320th barrage balloon battalion that landed on Normandy on June 6, 1944. This story deserved to be told and it deserves to be told 80 years later in our public schools and universities.
What I enjoyed was reading about how white English citizens treated black soldiers with total respect when they landed in England and the United Kingdom. She also described the situation that occurred in World War I in which the French also treated black troops with respect and dignity.
It is with that most respect that I recommend the black soldiers who would park at the 320th barrage balloon battalion that landed on Normandy on June 6, 1944. This story deserved to be told and it deserves to be told 80 years later in our public schools and universities.
August 12, 2020
I was unfamiliar with the stories of the barrage balloon soldiers in World War II and this book tells some of the stories, although the build up to the actual D-Day landing and actions shortly thereafter is much longer than anticipated. The stories of boot camps for the troops were covered, and more importantly, some of the most racist treatment happened in those boot camps.
As there were some mentions of black soldiers in other parts of the war, I was also hoping to see a mention of the Port Chicago (Concord, CA) explosion which happened on July 17, 1944 (shortly after D-Day), and which killed 332, of which over 2/3 were black sailors who were not trained in handling the loading of munitions. That story could be a stand alone book , but it would have been good to see it mentioned in this book.
As there were some mentions of black soldiers in other parts of the war, I was also hoping to see a mention of the Port Chicago (Concord, CA) explosion which happened on July 17, 1944 (shortly after D-Day), and which killed 332, of which over 2/3 were black sailors who were not trained in handling the loading of munitions. That story could be a stand alone book , but it would have been good to see it mentioned in this book.
April 4, 2019
A well written, thoroughly-researched book on World War II soldiers dealing with racism before, during, and after the war.
My main gripe with the book is that, despite billing itself as a book telling the story of the 320th Barrage Ballon Battalion (an all black unit and the first/only of its kind to see action on D-Day), the book spends probably 15% on the actual 320th itself. I was drawn to this book because of the promise to learn more about the the 320th and came away very disappointed.
That said, the book is a worthwhile read and provides a lot of good information on racism during World War II. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking to expand their knowledge of WW2, just not if you're looking to actually learn more about the 320th...
My main gripe with the book is that, despite billing itself as a book telling the story of the 320th Barrage Ballon Battalion (an all black unit and the first/only of its kind to see action on D-Day), the book spends probably 15% on the actual 320th itself. I was drawn to this book because of the promise to learn more about the the 320th and came away very disappointed.
That said, the book is a worthwhile read and provides a lot of good information on racism during World War II. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking to expand their knowledge of WW2, just not if you're looking to actually learn more about the 320th...
January 26, 2016
I was lucky enough to received this book from Goodreads.
This book is illuminating and provocative. If you are interested in the tale of the forgotten soldiers that fought for freedom without experiencing it for themselves, this book is for you. I knew black soldiers were discriminated against during the wars but I didn't know the extant of it til now. It makes me angry to the point of tears to read how these brave man went above and beyond the call of duty and were treated so inhumanly.
But, I do not regret reading this book. It was a real eye opener and well worth the time it took too read it.
This book is illuminating and provocative. If you are interested in the tale of the forgotten soldiers that fought for freedom without experiencing it for themselves, this book is for you. I knew black soldiers were discriminated against during the wars but I didn't know the extant of it til now. It makes me angry to the point of tears to read how these brave man went above and beyond the call of duty and were treated so inhumanly.
But, I do not regret reading this book. It was a real eye opener and well worth the time it took too read it.
February 9, 2025
Even though I have read many books about D-Day none of them mentioned Black soldiers and the roles they played. Even Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan had no mention of the Black Soldiers. This well researched book includes interviews with some of the soldiers who were still alive prior to the publication of the book in 2015. Despite their heroic efforts, these Black soldiers experienced shameful racism before, during, and after the war. It was interesting to learn how well these soldiers were accepted in Britain from 1942-44 while they were stationed there to train for the invasion. We must never forget the bravery of these men and women.
November 6, 2015
This book is an in-depth look at the pervasive race discrimination in the American military during the World Wars, and provides the tales of some of the young black men involved in the D-Day attack. These men were extraordinarily resilient and brave heroes, and few received any of the honors that they were due. My only complaint is that there wasn't as much focus on the men as on the general racist climate, but overall this was still an original look at Barrage Balloon Battalions and their impact on D-Day.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book.
November 17, 2015
Heartbreaking. And well done.
July 3, 2024
Worth a read! Enjoyed the background added to the lives of these heroic vets!
July 26, 2018
Linda Hervieux shows us people and parts of WWII that we may not have heard as much about. She also shows some of the racial tensions that happened during WWII. To that extent, she gives special attention the unit of black soldiers that made up the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. She also shows how Jim Crow policies and racism affected black soldiers.
The book is very good because it showed how unfair and evil the treatment of black soldiers by Americans (usually southern) truly was.
+ In the south, German and Italian POWs could eat in restaurants that black soldiers were not allowed in (meaning they would rather have Nazis dine there than blacks who were defending our freedoms!)
+ A black person in military uniform made him a target for violence and abuse by whites in the south
+ Many black soldiers felt safer in battle in Europe than in the south, because if they died it battle is was honorable, as opposed to being lynched and killed by their own countrymen.
+ Black soldiers were welcomed in England and France and were embraced by the people there without any qualms at all. This infuriated some whites, who sought ways to try and export America's Jim Crow laws to Europe (which, mercifully, was not effective).
+ After fighting for our country, many blacks hoped they would come home to a more understanding America than the one they left, they did not.
+ Saving Private Ryan which gives a very gripping portrayal of the Normandy invasion failed to include a single black person in the invasion at Normandy beach, even though there were plenty that were there.
Finally, I would just say, Part III of the book, which offers a detailed look at the Normandy invasion, was very moving for me. I can never get over what so many Americans/British/Canadians did that day for freedom.
Why read a book like this? The present is inextricably linked to the past. And even among those who consider themselves historically-minded, for whatever reason this historical-mindedness tends not to include understanding racial history. Yet, the present grows out of the past. There were points in this book where I said (if my ancestors were treated that way, I would be outraged too!).
The liberty to ignore past injustices--injustices that have never been addressed properly-- and to say "quit living in the past" really is the definition of privilege. It leaves the hurting to have to heal their own wounds by themselves.
But in order to do something positive and helpful for those who have experienced so much wrong at the hands of powerful forces in our country, the first step is with a heart ready to see what really happened.
That's not Marxism. That's not politics. That's humanity.
The book is very good because it showed how unfair and evil the treatment of black soldiers by Americans (usually southern) truly was.
+ In the south, German and Italian POWs could eat in restaurants that black soldiers were not allowed in (meaning they would rather have Nazis dine there than blacks who were defending our freedoms!)
+ A black person in military uniform made him a target for violence and abuse by whites in the south
+ Many black soldiers felt safer in battle in Europe than in the south, because if they died it battle is was honorable, as opposed to being lynched and killed by their own countrymen.
+ Black soldiers were welcomed in England and France and were embraced by the people there without any qualms at all. This infuriated some whites, who sought ways to try and export America's Jim Crow laws to Europe (which, mercifully, was not effective).
+ After fighting for our country, many blacks hoped they would come home to a more understanding America than the one they left, they did not.
+ Saving Private Ryan which gives a very gripping portrayal of the Normandy invasion failed to include a single black person in the invasion at Normandy beach, even though there were plenty that were there.
Finally, I would just say, Part III of the book, which offers a detailed look at the Normandy invasion, was very moving for me. I can never get over what so many Americans/British/Canadians did that day for freedom.
Why read a book like this? The present is inextricably linked to the past. And even among those who consider themselves historically-minded, for whatever reason this historical-mindedness tends not to include understanding racial history. Yet, the present grows out of the past. There were points in this book where I said (if my ancestors were treated that way, I would be outraged too!).
The liberty to ignore past injustices--injustices that have never been addressed properly-- and to say "quit living in the past" really is the definition of privilege. It leaves the hurting to have to heal their own wounds by themselves.
But in order to do something positive and helpful for those who have experienced so much wrong at the hands of powerful forces in our country, the first step is with a heart ready to see what really happened.
That's not Marxism. That's not politics. That's humanity.
February 3, 2020
I'm glad that this unwritten history has been written. I think the author did a great job synthesizing the several strands of the book, which must have taken a lot of work: African American prejudice in the US, especially during the first half of the 20th century & related to their service in the World Wars; barrage balloons as a defense strategy and a brief history of large balloons in general; the D Day invasion (albeit, mostly in context to the rest of the story); and a few select biographies of Black soldiers who worked with barrage balloons in WWII.
There were a few issues that distracted from the story and the story. There is not enough of a reason to have named the book "Forgotten." It was not so much about forgotten, except in the sense of being ignored or underappreciated, but I guess those don't make as good a title. Despite this problem, the last chapter of nine chapters was called "Forgotten" as well, and really only the final five pages of that chapter address the issue of these soldiers being ignored/underappreciated (also discussed in the epilogue, as I recall). There were several areas of the book that are lovely descriptive but not so much a contribution to new historical scholarship which could have been reduced in prominence in exchange for more of an exploration of why these men were forgotten. (The inference is that they were forgotten because of US institutional (military) prejudice, but this is not at all argued, let alone proven. In fact, the last paragraph of the final chapter says, basically, "He was considered for an award, but someone who wasn't black was given the award" and nothing much more than that.
I also was disappointed that D-Day, which is in the subtitle, doesn't show up until very late in the book, although that was the most interesting part of the book, and best-written, from my POV. Lastly, I don't think the author's argument that heroism recognition for certain African American soldiers was persuasive given the many many heroes made that day.
Lastly, unless I missed something, it seems that the role of the barrage balloon turned out to be underwhelming in the D Day invasion, the author indicating that many of the balloons were lost in the process of the landing.
One must be sympathetic to anyone who endeavors to present a history that has never been presented before, to be sensitive to the difficulty in telling a complete story where the record and research, no matter how rigorous the efforts expended, can never fill in forever gaps. There are plenty of histories that have yet to be written, and they are all in one way or another "forgotten;" the African Americans' service in the 320th Balloon Barrage Battalion is only one of them.
There were a few issues that distracted from the story and the story. There is not enough of a reason to have named the book "Forgotten." It was not so much about forgotten, except in the sense of being ignored or underappreciated, but I guess those don't make as good a title. Despite this problem, the last chapter of nine chapters was called "Forgotten" as well, and really only the final five pages of that chapter address the issue of these soldiers being ignored/underappreciated (also discussed in the epilogue, as I recall). There were several areas of the book that are lovely descriptive but not so much a contribution to new historical scholarship which could have been reduced in prominence in exchange for more of an exploration of why these men were forgotten. (The inference is that they were forgotten because of US institutional (military) prejudice, but this is not at all argued, let alone proven. In fact, the last paragraph of the final chapter says, basically, "He was considered for an award, but someone who wasn't black was given the award" and nothing much more than that.
I also was disappointed that D-Day, which is in the subtitle, doesn't show up until very late in the book, although that was the most interesting part of the book, and best-written, from my POV. Lastly, I don't think the author's argument that heroism recognition for certain African American soldiers was persuasive given the many many heroes made that day.
Lastly, unless I missed something, it seems that the role of the barrage balloon turned out to be underwhelming in the D Day invasion, the author indicating that many of the balloons were lost in the process of the landing.
One must be sympathetic to anyone who endeavors to present a history that has never been presented before, to be sensitive to the difficulty in telling a complete story where the record and research, no matter how rigorous the efforts expended, can never fill in forever gaps. There are plenty of histories that have yet to be written, and they are all in one way or another "forgotten;" the African Americans' service in the 320th Balloon Barrage Battalion is only one of them.
July 12, 2020
This author's attempt to document the otherwise unknown history of a battalion of black soldiers who landed at Normandy on D-Day is an epic failure. In my estimation, only about 15% of the book is dedicated to that story. The rest is a collection of generalizations and historical threads about WWII, and the racism that was pervasive throughout the military (and the United States) all of which have been told before. The book isn't terrible; actually it's interesting enough. And it's not terribly written, although it isn't particularly well-written either.
The author should actually be ashamed of herself for wasting a beautiful opportunity to tell the story of these men, who endured so much at home and at war. She had access to the surviving members of the battalion, to their families, and to their personal diaries. But instead, the vast majority of the book is devoted to material that's been covered time and time again. And the first chapter started off with such promise, telling the story of one of the veteran's early life in Atlantic City up until the time he was drafted. But soon thereafter, the author lost her way, and neither her editor nor her literary agent had the wherewithal to right the ship. So she squandered an opportunity that has now been lost forever, as the men to whom she had access have now succumbed to the relentless force of time. What a shame. The thought of the opportunity cost almost brings me to tears.
I hope that should the author ever embark on a similar endeavor, she first read the marvelous book, "Bringing Mulligan Home" by Dale Maharidge. Then perhaps she will understand how to pay tribute to the subjects about whom she is ostensibly writing.
One more note to the author: Medals are not "won" by members of the military. They are earned by the honored recipients. I cringed every time I read that phrase, and I can not believe that none of the editors at HarperCollins corrected this most egregious blunder.
The author should actually be ashamed of herself for wasting a beautiful opportunity to tell the story of these men, who endured so much at home and at war. She had access to the surviving members of the battalion, to their families, and to their personal diaries. But instead, the vast majority of the book is devoted to material that's been covered time and time again. And the first chapter started off with such promise, telling the story of one of the veteran's early life in Atlantic City up until the time he was drafted. But soon thereafter, the author lost her way, and neither her editor nor her literary agent had the wherewithal to right the ship. So she squandered an opportunity that has now been lost forever, as the men to whom she had access have now succumbed to the relentless force of time. What a shame. The thought of the opportunity cost almost brings me to tears.
I hope that should the author ever embark on a similar endeavor, she first read the marvelous book, "Bringing Mulligan Home" by Dale Maharidge. Then perhaps she will understand how to pay tribute to the subjects about whom she is ostensibly writing.
One more note to the author: Medals are not "won" by members of the military. They are earned by the honored recipients. I cringed every time I read that phrase, and I can not believe that none of the editors at HarperCollins corrected this most egregious blunder.
February 22, 2022
If you watched "Saving Private Ryan," you might think that there were no African Americans anywhere near the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. well, think again. Linda Hervieux tells the story of a group of African American soldiers who were on the Omaha and Utah beaches by 9 am on D-Day. Their mission was to inflate and raise barrage balloons to protect the troops on the beach from being strafed or bombed by German aircraft. But they also had medics who saved the lives of many soldiers in those early hours and days of the invasion. one in particular was hit by shrapnel while leaving his landing craft, yet still worked to patch up others until he collapsed 30 hours later.
Interestingly, these heroic moments are only part of the story - in fact, a small part of the entire story based on page count. Much of the story surrounds these men's training at camps in the South, where they were barred from most restaurants and movie theaters while German prisoners of war being held nearby were warmly welcomed. That is just one example of the indignities heaped upon them even as they were serving their country. There was violence aplenty too.
It is an amazing story. I am always leery of titles like "the untold story" or "the forgotten tale". They are usually just hyperbole. In this case, I think Linda hervieux really did find a story that was forgotten and needed to be told.
Interestingly, these heroic moments are only part of the story - in fact, a small part of the entire story based on page count. Much of the story surrounds these men's training at camps in the South, where they were barred from most restaurants and movie theaters while German prisoners of war being held nearby were warmly welcomed. That is just one example of the indignities heaped upon them even as they were serving their country. There was violence aplenty too.
It is an amazing story. I am always leery of titles like "the untold story" or "the forgotten tale". They are usually just hyperbole. In this case, I think Linda hervieux really did find a story that was forgotten and needed to be told.
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