African American Servicemen in Post-War Korea, 1956

Photo archive documenting the daily life and service of African American soldiers stationed in South Korea in 1956, three years after the Korean Armistice Agreement. Archive consists of 22 black and white silver gelatin photos predominately measuring 5" x 4". The images offer a rare visual account of Black military personnel in a post-war landscape, revealing interactions with fellow soldiers, white servicemen, and Korean civilians.

The photographs have been taken near a military base, possibly in or around Uijeongbu, Seoul, or Dongducheon, areas where U.S. military engineering and support units were active during this period. A visible sign (truncated) in one image reads "376 Engineer Battalion," identifying the unit as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 376th was responsible for infrastructure maintenance, road-building, and logistical support. Other visible signage includes a shop labeled "Kind Shop" in English and Hangul. Several images feature Black servicemen in standard-issue Army fatigues and caps, some appearing to hold non-commissioned officer ranks as indicated by insignia on their sleeves. Their duties seem varied—one soldier in the foreground of a street scene holds a metal container, possibly for food or water, while another walks behind him carrying a similar object. Another image shows a trio of Black soldiers standing at a fenced checkpoint near a military installation, conversing as they keep watch. The collection also captures daily interactions between American troops and local Korean civilians. In two images, Korean women in traditional hanbok attire are seen walking briskly past makeshift buildings with tiled roofs, likely a marketplace or a village near the military base. The economic hardship of post-war Korea is apparent in the worn structures and unpaved streets. Another photograph features both Black and white soldiers near a convoy of military trucks against a mountainous backdrop, indicating ongoing engineering or supply operations. We see these black servicemen manning M35 2½-ton cargo trucks, commonly used for transporting personnel and supplies, as well as smaller support vehicles. One image also features a C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft in the background, a transport plane frequently used by the U.S. military for cargo drops and troop movements in Korea during this period. While the images clearly depict an integrated unit, they also subtly reflect the racial divisions of the time, as Black soldiers appear clustered together in their duties and leisure activities.Photos exhibit light surface scratches and some creasing, but are in very good condition overall.A rare and historically significant collection documenting African American military service in post-war Korea, highlighting the role of Black soldiers in the desegregated U.S. Army and their interactions in a rapidly transforming Korean society. (Inventory #: 21513)