Inquiries Filed Under:

Underrepresented Servicemen and Servicewomen in the Korean War

About the inquiry

Out of the Shadows seeks to guide students to an understanding of the experiences of underrepresented groups of servicemen and servicewomen. In particular, the focus is placed on underrepresented groups of Korean War Veterans, including Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and women. Listening to the voices of select veterans, students will gain new knowledge related to the history of discrimination in American society – particularly in the U.S. military. Students will observe change over time and offer analysis by considering prior knowledge of racial inequalities in the United States.

Compelling Question

How did service in the Korean War shape views of discrimination?

Staging Question

Listen to Dealing with Racist Patients and Prisoners of War and read the transcript of Oneida Miller-Stuart’s experiences as a U.S. Army Nurse during World War II.

Supporting Question

What historical examples exist that reflect integration and segregation among servicemen/women?

Formative Tasks

Identify and describe examples of integration and segregation in major wars in the United States.

Sources

Source A: Robert Gould Shaw Memorial Source B: Executive Order 9981, Desegregating the Military Source C: African American Service and Racial Integration in the U.S. Military

Supporting Question

In what ways did service in segregated and integrated units contribute to servicemen/women’s views of discrimination?

Formative Tasks

Using a Venn Diagram, analyze Korean War veteran interviews to determine similarities and differences in their experiences.

Sources

Source A: John Gragg* Source B: Diana Kathleen Cattani Source C: Rudolph Valentine Archer

Supporting Question

How did Korean War veterans from underrepresented groups describe their service experiences related to discrimination?

Formative Tasks

Develop a thesis statement (claim) that is descriptive of the experiences of discrimination of Korean War veterans.

Sources

Source A: Roy Orville Hawthorne Source B: Willard Maktima Source C: Beverly Lawrence Dunjill

Summative Performance Task

Argument: Did service in the Korean War shape views of discrimination? Write a classical argument essay that supports or refutes the notion that service in the Korean War shaped views of discrimination.

Extension: Analyze demographic data of the United States armed forces for 2017–2022.

Taking Informed Action

Understand: Students can contribute to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project by interviewing veterans in their community, particularly veterans from underrepresented groups.

Assess:

Act: In addition, we encourage students to add a veteran profile to The 22, a Korean War veteran registry of the Korean War Legacy Foundation.

Your Voice Matters

join C3 Teachers

C3Teachers.org facilitates open collaborative conversations among teachers as they tinker with their own instructional practice as it relates to the C3 Framework.

We'd Love to Talk

Contact Us

If you are interested in offering more professional development opportunities, rethinking or redesigning your social studies curriculum, we’d love to talk.