African Americans and the Ledo-Stilwell Road

To: 

Those Interested in The Ledo Road

From: 

Dr.G. H. Seay

 Introduction                  

       I  have tried for several years to have this Ledo Road project published. 

         I have not been successful. 

I found out about the African American presence on the Ledo Road through a great friend of my Mother's, Ms Lillie Lesesne.  I knew she had been in the Army during the war, but that is all I knew. I asked her in the late 90s what she had done during the war. 

She said, "I was stationed at the 335th Station Army Hospital at Tagap Burma." 

The hair stood up on the back of my neck.  I spent over six years researching the campaign and over 4 years trying to get it published.  Now, I present to you my findings for your consideration. 

II

         It seems important to provide the evidence through primary documents that led me to conclude that the  presence of African Americans in China-Burma-India Theatre of operations contributed directly to the Desegregation of the Army.  And, that these African Americans are deserving of every respect for the sacrifice they made during World War II. 

            This website is an effort to present the research on the contributions of African Americans during World War II to the building and completion of the 1000+ mile Ledo Road. 

              The Road started in Ledo, India, traveled through Burma and ended in Kunming, China.  The record reports that of the 15,000 troops sent to construct the road, over 60% were African Americans.  Most Importantly, while the road--as a means of transit of war materials--was deemed ineffective by the time of its completion, the research shows that the work of the African American soldiers contributed directly to the Desegregation of the Army.

             This site wishes to document both the work done by these thousands of African Americans, and, to provide the discussion on to how their work served to aid in the Desegregation of the Army.  

          Primary documents, related research, and oral histories will accompany the discussion for your review and comment. 

I look forward to your comments.  Please email me at the following email address; Ledostilwell@gmail.com.

If you know a Ledo Road Vet, please email me the information, and I will contact him or her And add them to the record.

Thanks. 

 An aerial view of The Road

Jeep on the Road, somewhere in the Mountains of Burma.

 A Convoy stuck in the Mud

Signal Core Photos

Circa, 1941 

E Mail Me Today!

If you know a Ledo Road Vet, Please Email Me today.  I want to add his or her Oral History to the collection.

The Map of the China Burma Theatre of Operations and the route of the Ledo Road.

From an Informational  Booklet on the Road         Circa 1943