. Stuart, Div of Plans and Policies, for
CMC, 14 Feb 46, sub: Ltr of Inst #421 Revocation
of, AO-1, copy in Ref Br, Hist Div, HQMC.]

[Illustration: MEDICAL ATTENDANTS AT REST, PELELIU, OCTOBER, 1944.]

The Division of Plans and Policies tried to follow these strictures as
it set about organizing the new black units. Job preference had
already figured in the organization of the new Messman's Branch
established in January 1943. At that time Secretary Knox had approved
the reconstitution of the corps' all-white Mess Branch as the
Commissary Branch and the organization of an all-black Messman's
Branch along the lines of the Navy's Steward's Branch.[4-23] In (p. 107)
authorizing the new branch, which was quickly redesignated the
Steward's Branch to conform to the Navy model, Secretary Knox
specified that the members must volunteer for such duty. Yet the
corps, under pressure to produce large numbers of stewards in the
early months of the war, showed so little faith in the volunteer
system that Marine recruiters were urged to induce half of all black
recruits to sign on as stewards.[4-24] Original plans called for the
assignment of one steward for every six officers, but the lack of
volunteers and the needs of the corps quickly caused this estimate to
be scaled down.[4-25] By 5 July 1944 the Steward's Branch numbered (p. 108)
1,442 men, roughly 14 percent of the total black strength of the
Marine Corps.[4-26] It remained approximately this size for the rest
of the war.

[Footnote 4-23: Memo, CMC for SecNav, 30 Dec 42, sub:
Change of Present Mess Branch in the Marine Corps
to Commissary Branch and Establishment of a
Messman's Branch and Ranks Therein, with SecNav
approval indicated, AO-363-311. See also Memo, CMC
for Chief, NavPers, 30 Dec 42, sub: Request for
Allotment to MC..., A-363; Memo, Dir, Div of Plans
and Policies, for CMC, 23 Nov 42, sub: Organization
of Mess Branch (Colored), AO-283. All in MC files.]

[Footnote 4-24: Memo, Dir of Recruiting for Off in
Charge, Eastern Recruiting Div et al., 25 Feb 42,
sub: Messman Branch, AP-361-1390; Memo, CMC for
SecNav, 3 Apr 43, sub: Change in Designation...,
AO-340-1930.