Talk:Red Ball Express

Ambiguous Phrasing

For offensive operations each division would burn about 700-750 tons a day ...

A casual reader will immediately assume that the verb burn implies fuel rather than aggregate supplies. MaxEnt 15:27, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

African American Red Ballers

Amazing. Almost 75 percent of the Red Ballers were African-American. Yet, there is absolutely no mention of them here -- (unless I missed it; I skimmed the piece). This is a huge omission. (Anybody remember Eddie Kendricks' "Keep on Truckin'"? "I'm the Red Ball Express of love. I'm truckin'.... deeceevoice 18:45, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

Just saw the last sentence (I think). Needs expansion. deeceevoice 18:47, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

Since wikipedia is becoming the default source of historical reference, it's a shame to see this topic completely glossed over in order to remain PC. Was this a military program designed to use low IQ soldiers in a productive capacity regardless of race? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.13.158.21 (talk) 00:24, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

No. There was a distinct and obvious racial bias against African-Americans in the American military at the time. Many officers considered all blacks worthless, so they would avoid command positions in such units. As a result, many of the white officers in such units were both less than enthusiastic about their troops and also poor leaders. If you look at the differences between the 92nd and the 93rd Infantry Divisions in World War I, you'll see the stark difference in well-led and poorly-led African-American units. There's no political correctness involved in this article. The Army hierarchy believed that African-Americans were stupid, lazy and unfit for combat. They were simply being racist, not putting low IQ soldiers to be drivers.

Deecee, I think we ought to have the 75 percent number in the opening paragraph. Burying it down near the bottom is a travesty. --Habap (talk) 16:29, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

my father was in the Red Ball Express. He was was assigned to that mission. He told us the General described the soldiers as just a bunch of "n***** and ignorant white boys. He also described all the injuries and men killed in the missions. Because many of them were carrying fuel, and when they were fired upon, the soldiers driving those trucks had no chance of survival. He was scarred for life. Never did get those images out of his mind. I apologize for using the general's language. In my opinion those boys were chosen because they were the bravest and most dedicated soldiers the military had. 2600:1700:3FE1:2340:D22:4C0E:52CF:469B (talk) 20:00, 23 May 2024 (UTC)

Someday someone's skin color won't matter. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jros83 (talk • contribs) 00:50, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Before the 70s, black men were seen as unfit for the combat. So they couldn't be part of the fighting units. During the WW1 and WW2 majority of black enlisted men were part of logistic unit.

Repetition and contradiction

This article could do with a vigorous copyedit - even a rewrite.
It is full of repetition - for instance, the bit about the African American soldiers appears in the lede and the body of the article.
But the most blatant contradiction must be '... the allies had premptively [sic] bombed the French railway system into ruins' in Para 2 of the 'History' section.
This is followed by the quote from For Want of a Nail..., (near the end): 'the French railroads were, to some degree, operated similarly, with loaded trains moving forward almost nose to tail.'

Which is it: 'the French railway system in ruins' or 'with loaded trains moving forward almost nose to tail.'?

RASAM (talk) 13:28, 12 November 2016 (UTC)

Unit identification

What units made up the express? I did some preliminary searching and got no hits. Green Books next, I guess.--Georgia Army Vet Contribs Talk 17:18, 19 November 2020 (UTC)

In other military parlance

In the United States Air Force when an aircraft is at end of runway awaiting takeoff, if a problem arises before takeoff, a "Red Ball" is called for the specialty truck to speed there for a technician to make a repair or call of the flight. 67.10.205.174 (talk) 23:56, 8 September 2021 (UTC)

References