U.S. Soldier in Korea, 1951 In 1948, President Truman issued an executive order to desegregate the armed forces. During the Korean War African American soldiers served in integrated combat units. This black soldier takes a break from the fighting to read the military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, and eat his meal rations.

Pfc. Charles Fabiszak/US Army/National Archives/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images