Oklahoma History Center Presents Special Veterans Day Program "Victory Abroad - Victory at Home: The Double V"

Contact: Bruce Fisher
(405) 522-5049

Oklahoma City, OK
For Immediate Release

The Oklahoma History Center, in association with the National Association for Black Veterans is presenting a special Veterans Day program on November 11th focusing on Black Veterans and the struggles they endured. The program is titled "Victory Abroad-Victory At Home: The Double V." The program is free and the public is invited to attend.

The central theme of Double V is the promise held out to African American military personnel that service in World War II would deliver to them a double victory-a "double V"-over tyranny abroad and racial prejudice at home. They fought Nazi-Fascism abroad and prejudice at home.

The Oklahoma Historical Society will announce that we have received a donation of the Lt. Col. Major Clark collection of military writings, documents, photographs, and artifacts from Dr. Vivian Clark of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This collection may be the most extensive archival record of African Americans in WWII in the Southwest. The program will consist of a conference focusing on African American ground troops in W.W.II, with a special tribute to the surviving members of the 597th. The conference will include sessions on the 555 paratroopers, 761 tank division, 597 artillery battalion and panel discussion featuring W.W.II veterans.

Lt. Col. Major Clark (deceased) was a W.W.II and Korean War veteran. He was troop historian for the 92nd Division, 597th Field Artillery Battalion. It was the only African American Field Artillery Battalion commanded throughout W.W.II by an African American commanding officer, Col. Wendell Derricks. Lt. Col. Clark wrote a history of the 597th and worked behind the scenes for the posthumous exoneration of Henry O. Flipper, to change the negative depiction of African American Soldiers in Department of Defense materials, and to document the eligibility of African American W.W.II veterans for the Medal of Honor.

Approximately one million African Americans served this nation during W.W II. None were awarded the nations highest medal of valor. In 1993 a study was commissioned by President Clinton to determine if there had been any disparity in recognizing African American servicemen. The study confirmed what Lt. Col. Clark had been advocating, that African Americans had been deliberately overlooked. In 1997 seven African American WWII veterans were awarded the Medal of Honor for valor during a special White House ceremony.

Captain Ruben Rivers of Shawnee, OK was one of the veterans posthumously recognized during the White House ceremony. In 2004 his brother, Willie Rivers, donated his service medals including the Medal of Honor to the Oklahoma Historical Society. They are currently on display at the Oklahoma History Center.

The complete schedule for November 11th includes:
10:00 to 10:30am - Registration
10:30 to 11:00am - Opening remarks
11:00 to 12:30pm - Screening of "Inside Buffalo" This production uncovers the story of the 92nd division, an African-American segregated combat unit which fought in Italy during WWII. This 2009 production includes reenactments and interviews with veterans from the 92nd division.

The documentary has received favorable reviews from United States Senator Edward Brooks, the U. S. Department of Defense, the William Clinton Library, and the Black International Cinema festival. 12:30 to 2:00pm - viewing of exhibit, selling and autographing of "Inside Buffalo"

2:00 to 2:30pm - Remarks by Director Fred Kuwornu Fred Kudjo Kuwornu produced the documentary "Inside Buffalo." Mr. Kuwornu was born and grew up in Italy. His middle name, Kudjo, means born on Monday in his father's traditional language in Ghana. He has a Degree in Politics Science, and Mass Media Communication. The screening will require standard DVD projection equipment.

2:30 to 3:30pm - Roundtable with WWII vets including Eugene D. Jones, Jr. of Oklahoma City and retired Lt. Col. Lester McCants from Seattle, Washington and Lt. Col. Lester McCants served with the 597th during WWII.
3:45 to 4:15pm - Tribute to 597th - Vivian Clark-Adams and members of 597th

For additional information, contact Bruce Fisher at (405) 522-5049 or by email at brucefisher@okhistory.org.