Food Service within the Service

Service: Veteran Stories of Hunger and War

Young William Walker was determined to succeed. Despite segregation in the service during World War II, William rose to Chief Petty Officer First Class in the Navy – an uncommon position of authority for African Americans particularly in that branch. First managing PT rescue teams stateside and then overseeing his ship’s food supply holds in the South West Pacific, William’s history helps us understand a layer of the complicated web of racism and opportunity that African American service members met when they joined the World War.

Find photos from this episode, an episode transcription, and more at www.ServicePodcast.org and on Instagram and Facebook, where you can also share your stories and leave messages for all of the veterans you hear on Service.

Thank you to Honor Flight Columbus for connecting us with the Walker family for this episode. Learn more about sponsoring a senior veterans’ visit to see war memorials in Washington D.C. at www.HonorFlightColumbus.org, and see more on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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