Also Directed by Noel Izon
During World War II, 7,000 Filipino Americans volunteered their services to the U.S. Army and helped liberate their homeland from Japanese occupation. Director Noel M. Izon captures their stories through the voices of the veterans themselves – only half of whom are still alive today – and delivers touching personal accounts of the men’s contributions and sacrifices during the war. Despite the fact that they endured a bleak, racist prewar climate and were not even considered U.S. citizens, these individuals rallied to join the war effort and cement their rightful place in American history.
Chocolate Soldiers from the USA tells the story of 140,000 Black American soldiers and thousands of British civilians who crossed a racial divide to forge an unexpected bond. While serving in a segregated military, Black men and women do much of the U.S. Army's "heavy lifting" by day, and introduce the British population to jazz, jitterbugging and Black American culture by night. For the first time, Black American soldiers experience what it is like to be treated as equals and as Americans.t
