Sailors on deck of USS Malang in dress blues.

A group of U.S. navy sailors on deck of the USS Malang in dress blues. From the service of Machinist Mate 1st Class Herbert Myers, U.S. Navy, AEF.

During World War I, thousands of African American men answered their country's call and joined the armed services. Though segregation policies at the time followed them into the military, the service of African Americans during the war broke barriers and challenged the heart of racist policies in the military and beyond.