Park University Secures a $70,000 Contribution from VFW for the Evaluation of Valor Medals
Park University Leads Effort to Investigate Racial Bias in World War I Valor Medals
A groundbreaking research initiative is underway to examine the potential racial bias in the awarding of World War I military service medals. The project, known as the Valor Medals Review, is being conducted by Park University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, the Valor Medals Review Task Force, the Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars, and the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, in partnership with the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
The VFW has pledged its support for this initiative, with National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz donating $70,000 to Park University for the research. The VFW believes that the recognition of these service members should come without condition or exception.
The Valor Medals Review project aims to systematically review the historical record to determine whether deserving minority veterans were overlooked for military decorations due to racial discrimination. Historians, scholars, and researchers believe systematic racism may be responsible for the lack of African Americans receiving the Medal of Honor during World War I, despite more than 367,000 African Americans fighting in the war.
The project will focus on investigating the cases of minority servicemembers who received the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross or the Croix de Guerre with Palm, the second highest military decoration awarded for extraordinary heroism. Researchers have identified 70 African Americans, 203 Jewish Americans, 18 Native Americans, three Alaskan natives, and three Hispanic Americans as recipients of these decorations.
The goal of the Valor Medals Review project is to provide the "state-of-play" and generate recommendations for Congress or the Department of Defense to actualize. The Department of Defense is proposed to execute this review, aimed at identifying potential racial bias in the awarding of medals.
The Valor Medals Review project began in September 2018 and involves collecting and reviewing archival records, and genealogical and descendant outreach. The initiative reflects a broader effort to unearth and correct potential racial injustices in military honors from that era, ensuring that minority soldiers receive proper recognition for their bravery and service. The VFW considers this initiative a chance to make history right, by helping to rectify the historical injustice of the lack of recognition for minority groups during World War I.
Park University President, Greg Gunderson, Ph.D., expressed gratitude for the VFW's partnership, stating that Park is committed to ensuring all service members' valiant acts are appropriately recognized. The Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars is also a partner in the research initiative.
The Valor Medals Review project is an ongoing effort to investigate and potentially rectify the historical injustice of the lack of recognition for minority groups during World War I. By systematically examining cases of minority servicemembers, the project seeks to identify and recommend awards that might have been unjustly withheld because of racial prejudice.
- The valiant service and sacrifices made by minority servicemembers during World War I should be acknowledged, and the Valor Medals Review project serves as an initiative for education and self-development, aiming to identify potential racial bias in the awarding of military decorations.
- The VFW's support for the Valor Medals Review project not only reflects a commitment to correcting past injustices but also encourages ongoing education and self-development regarding racial equality in military honors and recognition.
