to find a suitable base for its
only black tactical group. Even in northern cities with large black
communities--Syracuse, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and Windsor Locks,
Connecticut, among others--officials had vehemently protested against
having the black group.

The War Department, Eaker concluded, "should never be ahead of popular
opinion on this subject; otherwise it will put itself in a position of
stimulating racial disorders rather than overcoming them." Along these
lines, and harking back to the Freeman Field incident, he protested
against regulations reaffirmed by the Gillem Board for the joint use
of clubs, theaters, post exchanges, and the like at stations in
localities where such use was contrary to civilian practices.[6-16]

[Footnote 6-16: 1st Ind, Lt Gen Ira C. Eaker, Deputy
Cmdr, AAF, to CofS, 19 Dec 45, sub: War Department
Special Board on Negro Manpower, copy at Tab H,
Supplemental Report of Board of Officers on
Utilization of Negro Manpower in the Post-War Army,
26 Jan 46, copy in CMH.]

The Army Ground Forces headquarters concurred generally with the
Gillem Board's conclusions and recommendations but suggested the Army
not act alone. The headquarters recommended a policy be formulated for
the entire military establishment; only then should individual
elements of the armed forces come forward with their own policies. The
idea that Negroes should serve in numbers proportionate to their
percentage of the population and bear their share of battle losses
"may be desirable but is impracticable and should be abandoned in the
interest of a logical solution."[6-17] Since the abilities of Negroes
were limited, the report concluded, their duties should be restricted.

[Footnote 6-17: Memo, Lt Col S. R. Knight (for CG,
AGF) for CofS, 18 Dec 45, sub: Army Ground Forces
Comments and Recommendations on Report of the War
Department Special Board (Gillem) on Negro
Manpower, dated 17 Nov 45, GNGPS 370.01 (18 Dec
45); AGF Study, "Participation of Negro Troops in
the Postwar Military Establishment," 28 Nov 45,
forwarded to CofS, ATTN: Dir, WD Special Planning
Div, GNDCG 370.01 (28 Nov 45).]

The commanding general of the Army Service Fo