Presented by the Associated Producers of Negro Motion Pictures, produced and directed by African American filmmaker William D. Alexander and narrated by Fredric March, THE HIGHEST TRADITION (1946) tells the story of African Americans participating in WWII. This includes Joseph Cross, Doris "Dorrie" Miller, Leonard "Roy" Harmon, Elbert Oliver (who won the silver star), and more. Hampton Institute in Virginia and the Great Lakes facility in Illinois are shown where African Americans were trained for service. African American women who served in the WAVEs are also shown, as are the men in the ordnance battalions.
Over 2.5 million African-American men registered for the draft, and black women also volunteered in large numbers. While serving in the Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, they experienced discrimination and segregation but met the challenge and persevered. They served their country with distinction, made valuable contributions to the war effort, and earned high praises and commendations for their struggles and sacrifices. However discrimination (totally glossed over in the film) certainly made their situation difficult, and while they provided valiant service they were often treated as second class citizens in many regards.
Leonard Roy Harmon (January 21, 1917-November 13, 1942) was a black American sailor who died in action during World War II and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his valor.
Doris "Dorie" Miller (October 12, 1919 - November 24, 1943) was a Messman Third Class in the United States Navy noted for his bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross, the third highest honor awarded by the U.S. Navy at the time, after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The Navy Cross now precedes the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Miller's acts were heavily publicized in the black press, making him the iconic emblem of the war for blacks-their "Number One Hero"-thereby energizing black support for the war effort against a colored Japanese enemy. Nearly two years after Pearl Harbor, he was killed in action when USS Liscome Bay was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the Battle of Makin.
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