eight African-American nominees were awarded the Medal of Honor
until the 1990s; and
WHEREAS, Of the eight African-American nominees, only two
were awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, in 1991 and 2015
after prior valor award reviews; and
WHEREAS, Researchers at Park University in Parkville,
Missouri, are reviewing the records of approximately 40,000
African-American troops who fought in combat during World War I;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to the African-American troops of World
War I, Park University researchers plan to eventually look into
the records of other minority groups, including Asian Americans,
Hispanic Americans, Jewish Americans and Native Americans; and
WHEREAS, At the time of consideration, the award criteria was
race-neutral when determining whether the service member
qualified for the particular valor award; and
WHEREAS, Due to prejudices and racial discrimination, many
minorities were not granted the same considerations for a valor
award when reviewing their actions and bravery during their
service in World War I; and
WHEREAS, It is important and necessary to research and
rightfully award minority service members valor awards for their
distinguished service during which they risked their lives and
went above and beyond the call of duty, reflecting honorably on
their units, the United States Armed Forces and their country;
and
WHEREAS, The American Legion adopted Resolution 109 in 2018
requesting legislation that would lift the statutes of
limitations preventing proper review of the records of minority
service members for their consideration of valor awards for
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