Final answer:
Blacks in the Navy were often relegated to service roles, while in the Army, they faced segregation and non-combat assignments. As war progressed, some integration happened, exemplified by heroic units such as the Tuskegee Airmen. Post-war, the military's discriminatory practices led to a push for full integration in 1948.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing Blacks who served in the Navy to those in the Army, differences in their experiences and roles are evident during times of war, especially during World War II. In the Navy, black sailors were initially restricted to service positions such as cooks or cargo loaders, with combat roles being closed off to them. However, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, these restrictions began to relax slightly, yet roles were still mainly labor-focused. In contrast, those in the Army were subject to strict segregation and often served in non-combat roles as well. It was only towards the end of the war that some integration occurred in both branches, and notable units like the Tuskegee Airmen and the 761st Tank Battalion demonstrated the valor and skill of black servicemen.
The US military's policy of segregation was persistent, where even after over a million African Americans served in World War II, discrimination was rampant. Incidents such as the one in San Francisco in 1944, where 300 black seamen were killed due to a white officer's disregard for safety regulations, highlighted the systemic racism and questioned the very notion of freedom for which these individuals were fighting. Despite the adversity, black servicemembers contributed greatly to the military efforts, and their service expedited the push towards the eventual full integration of the armed forces in 1948.