We Want You!

On September 16, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt mandated that all men aged 18 to 65 register for the armed forces. The Selective Training and Service Act was signed into law. The War Department Organization and Training Division revised its plan for incoming African American soldiers. At the start of the war, African American soldiers were met with strict quotas and were limited to segregated units, limited roles, or positions in the Quartermaster Corps. White enlistees were encouraged to choose where they would like to serve.

Principals of local schools were called together to help manage the draft registration. Each time a new resident was called, their name would be posted in the newspaper and announced at the local board meeting. In addition to Alphonso, several men in his family registered for the draft, including his nephew, Olivet, and brother, Aelous.

Alphonso, whose draft number was 756, was called up for service and traveled to Camp Blanding in Clay County, Florida, on August 20, 1941. Local newspapers encouraged families to write to their young soldiers. Some shared updates about their service lives, including promotions, visits home, orders, and Missing in Action (MIA) notices.

World War II

During World War II, the military was segregated. Local newspapers published stories about the praises received by African American soldiers within the ranks. While they experienced poor training, inadequate facilities, and mistreatment by peers and supervisors, African American troops and community activists fought for improvement. Combatting stereotypes would be no easy feat, and promotion in the armed forces was difficult to achieve.

After his induction into the U.S. Army, Alphonso was assigned to the 904th Quartermaster as a private at Camp Blanding. Camp Blanding had taken on a life of its own, specializing in tactical war training and serving as a temporary facility for soldiers traveling to other posts. It is unclear how long Church was stationed at Camp Blanding or what he experienced before being transferred to Mitchel Field (now Mitchel Air Force Base), New York.

During World War II, the U.S. Quartermaster Corps trained men to handle and transport supplies to the front lines. Quartermaster companies learned to navigate terrain in challenging conditions to deliver equipment to combat units. They transported food, clothing, ammunition, and fuel. Even though these soldiers were not on the front lines, their work was still very dangerous. Many individuals in quartermaster companies died or suffered critical injuries transporting items to the front lines. The 904th Quartermaster Company was broken into smaller detachments to support larger units across the globe

In July 1944, Church was hospitalized for an arm injury after a non-combat vehicle accident. He remained in service after the injury until he was honorably discharged on January 31, 1946. His rank at the time of discharge was a Technician Fifth Class.

Returning Home

Many African Americans viewed World War II as a war on two fronts. While they helped protect the nation against foreign enemies, they also fought for equality in the United States. At the end of World War II, African Americans returned to the same discrimination they had faced before the war. The Army quickly demobilized African American units after the war ended. Newspapers featured cartoons announcing the lack of need for African Americans in certain regions.

After World War II, Church moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where his sister Patience lived.

In the military, change had begun. At the onset of the Korean War, the armed forces had officially been desegregated. Despite this, promotion within the ranks of the armed forces would still prove difficult to obtain.

The Korean War

On July 26, 1950, Church re-enlisted to take up arms in the Korean War. He was assigned to the Eighth Army, 25th Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company K at the rank of corporal. He began his journey in Fort Dix, New Jersey. After being transferred to Camp Stoneman in California in August 1950, he was sent overseas.

The 24th Infantry Regiment received orders for Operation Dauntless on April 6, 1951. The unit learned from a Prisoner of War that the Chinese Communist Spring Offensive was planned for April 22, 1951. Leading up to the attack, the weather had been poor, the rocky terrain was challenging to navigate, and the use of napalm and white phosphorus decreased the soldiers’ ability to see clearly.

At approximately midnight, the offensive began with heavy mortar and artillery fire. While moving to Hill 877, Company K was attacked from the rear and on the flank. The enemy continued to launch their offensive from the night of April 22 through April 23, 1951.

The 24th Infantry Regiment was ordered to withdraw after its positions had been compromised. Rear units had been infiltrated, and the lines of communication were cut. While advancing toward Hill 877, Company K was attacked from the rear and flank. The enemy sustained their offense from the night of April 22 through April 23, 1951.

The 24th Infantry Regiment was unable to secure its position due to the enemy’s forceful resistance from the top of the hill. At some point during this battle, Church went missing. He was last seen in the vicinity of Sosong-Ni, North Korea.