Red Ball Express

In keeping with my military history bent, I thought it was only right to bring up the Red Ball Express. This was the name given to the military supply chain run in Europe, starting shortly after the Normandy breakout. The drivers, loaders and mechanics were almost entirely (about 3/4, according to the DoD) Americans of African descent. The term "Red Ball" is a military expression given to any transportation method which is hauling indispensable, or immediately needed goods. This dates back to covered wagon transportation and early trains where a large red ball was painted on all sides to allow the military police to direct these good to the fastest routes. The one in France in World War II only ran for 85 days till the port of Antwerp was opened for shipping to reach the front lines faster. On a given day, about 900 2 1/2 ton trucks would be on the road, 24 hours a day, covering 350 (Patton's 3rd army) or 400 miles (Bradley's 1st army). Without the supplies provided by this unsung group, the advance of the U.S. Army across France would have ground to a halt long before they reached the German boarder. The program ended in November of 1944, having delivered 412,193 tons of supplies to the front. In all, some 210, 209 African-Americans were in the Army, with about 93,292 serving in the Quartermaster Corps, the Army's transportation and supply division.

Again, if people are interested in learning more, I can post some information on this. The response to the Navajo Code talkers was great.