Page 241 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013

443 ● (MILITARY—WORLD WAR II.) Archive of letters from two African
Americans, apparently cousins; one a marine, and the other from a trainee at
the 51st Squadron, flying school, with original envelopes. Over fifty letters,
together with a few postcards and a military pamphlet, “The Negro and Defense.”SHOULD
BE SEEN. Vp, 1942-1945 [1,000/1,500]
These wartime letters were all sent to Mr. and Mrs. Lawyer Dykes, of Akron, Ohio by pfc Leo
Dykes, Mr. Dykes brother and pfc Benjamin Peavy, the Dykes son-in-law. The young Dykes
was part of the so-called MontfordPoint marines, while Peavy was at the Greenville Army
Flying School. Both groups of letters have good content, especially those of Leo Dykes who
writes a number of letters datelined “Central Pacific,” September and October of 1944. Some
of the fiercest fighting of the Pacific campaign took place during the time these letters were
sent—The battles of Peliliu and Anguar in particular. All these letters bear the censor’s stamps.
444 ● (MILITARY—WORLD WAR II.) U.S. GOVERNMMENT. Command of
Negro Troops, War Department, 29 February, 1944. 19 pages, checklist. 8vo, original
self-wrappers, printed on cheap, pulp paper; fore-edge with some light wear and a few
chips; loosely laid in is a card with “Command of Negro Troops,” and fifteen points, obvi-
ously meant to be carried in one’s pocket or wallet.
Washington: Government Printing Office, 1944 [400/600]
An intriguing glimpse into the thinking of the U.S. War Department as regards Negroes and
how to deal with them. From the Introduction: “The same methods of discipline, training and
leadership apply to Negro troops that have proved themselves successful with other troops.
Nevertheless, the Negro in the Army has special problems.” The card with its 15 points is
fairly enlightened in its approach, given the time and circumstances. Points like “Have I made
allowances for any lack of educational opportunities in my men?” “Have I used words and
phrases that my men cannot fully understand?” Have I done or said things that might wound
the sensibilities of my men?” “Have I taken great pains with AGCT IV’s and V’s to explain
to them the consequences of AWOL and venereal disease?” etc, etc. The overall language is
generally a bit patronizing, but surprisingly honest too: “Have I excused my own shortcomings
as a commander by attributing inadequate training to lack of ability on the part of my com-
mand instead of to my own failure to correct shortcomings?”
442