The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

Celebrities Who Served – Robinson, Jack “Jackie” (1942-1944)

Celebrities Who Served – Robinson, Jack “Jackie” (1942-1944)

In 1942, Robinson was drafted and assigned to a segregated Army cavalry unit in Fort Riley, Kansas. Having the requisite qualifications, Robinson and several other black soldiers applied for admission to an Officer Candidate School (OCS) then located at Fort Riley. Although the Army's initial July 1941 guidelines for OCS had been drafted as race-neutral, practically speaking few black applicants were admitted into OCS until after subsequent directives by Army leadership. As a result, the...

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Service Memories of 1LT Jimmie Loftis, USA (1940-1974)

Service Memories of 1LT Jimmie Loftis, USA (1940-1974)

Please describe who or what influenced your decision to join the Army. Two uncles who served during WWII influenced me to join the Army. They were both younger brothers to my dad: (1) PFC Donald E. Loftis was killed in eastern France on 4 Jan 1945 while serving with Co. E, 114th Infantry Regiment, 44th Division, 7th Army. He earned the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Purple Heart. He was lead man of a two-man team laying commo wire from field to HQ when he was hit by a sniper. His...

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