February is Black History Month. This photograph celebrates the brave African-American men and women who served in the military during World War II. Taken in October 1942 in North Omaha, these photographs capture African-American service men enjoying a little leisure time. The North Side Community Center was organized by Ak-ar-ben during WWII. Activities included pool, ping-pong, cards, music and a library.
Several of the service men wear blue star Army Service Forces patches on their sleeves. The Army Service Forces was one of three components of the United States Army during World War II, the other being the Army Air Forces and the Army Ground Forces. Formed in 1942 during a sweeping reorganization of the Army, the Army Service Forces was comprised of the Corps of Engineers, Signal Corps, Ordnance Department, Quartermaster Corps, Medical Corps and the Transportation Corps. The Seventh Service Command was headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
