Major General Peter J. Gravett, USA (Ret) offers his latest book, Battling While Black: General Patton’s Heroic African American WWII Battalions, which provides insightful perspectives of Black service members succeeding against an institutional environment of racism and bigotry found in the military after WWI and throughout WWII. MG Gravett started collecting Black Military history items 60+ years ago while growing up in a Southern California public housing project with his 11 siblings.
Hi Folks, Last Saturday’s (Jan 20, 2024) presentation by General Gravett was great ! A full house braved wet nasty weather to hear his talk about African Americans integrating the US military. Thanks to Mike Herrera (of “Harbor Speaks Presents”) who taped the event. Short but covered all the main points. Click below to watch including info at the end of this video on how to order the book. Thank you. Diane Middleton
Major General Gravett presents his book, Battling While Black – General Patton’s Heroic African American WWII Battalions, at the San Pedro Library (Click for YouTube Video of the Event).
Battling While Black – General Patton’s Heroic African American WWII Battalions
Black Military History in WWII
- ORDER from one of several online locations, including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, and IndieBound.
- In Battling While Black – General Patton’s Heroic African American WWII Battalions, the MG Gravett showcases four, heroic all-Black military units which the military reluctantly allowed to serve in WWII Europe:
- 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion
- 761st Tank Battalion
- 333rd Field Artillery Battalion
- 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
- The book comprises materials, memorabilia, Black military unit histories, and personal interviews with Black WWII combat veterans distilled from 60+ years of meticulous, historical research and collection.
OPEN TABS below for news and other upcoming book signing events
Battling While Black – General Patton’s Heroic African American WWII Battalions showcases four, heroic all-Black military units which the military reluctantly allowed to serve in WWII Europe: 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, 761st Tank Battalion, 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. ORDER NOW from one of several websites, including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, and IndieBound.
Steve Marconi provides a review of MG Gravett’s book, “Battling While Black” in the April 2024 issue of “San Pedro Today” magazine. Click this link for the online version of the article.
Major General Gravett will be conducting a book signing at the California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92504 on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 2 pm.
Major General Gravett will be attending the 40th Infantry Division Alumni Association Luncheon, Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, CA on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 11:30 am.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books at the California Disabled American Veterans Conference at the Hotel Fera Anaheim, 100 The City Drive, Orange, CA on May 15-18, 2024.
Major General Gravett will sign books onboard the battleship USS Iowa during Fleet Week at the Los Angeles Harbor May 22-25, 2024.
Major General Gravett presides over the Memorial Day parade in Canoga Park, CA as the Grand Marshall on Monday, May 27, 2024 starting at 10 am.
Major General Gravett will sign books at the Community Veteran Justice Project, Patriotic Hall, 1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles on Friday, May 31, 2024 from 9 am to 1 pm.
Major General Gravett will present his book to Army Aviation Alumni, Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, CA on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 5 pm.
Major General Gravett will present his book to The Legion of the Dawn Patrol, Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, CA on Monday, June 3, 2024 at 5 pm.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books during the Department of Arizona, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 2024 Annual State Conference, June 10-12, 2024 held at at the Ack-Chin Casino, N. 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, AZ.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books during the Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 11 am to 4 pm, held at Point Fermin Park, Gaffey Street at Paseo del Mar, San Pedro, CA.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books from 12 – 2 pm, at the California Military Department Headquarters on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024, 10601 Bear Hollow Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA.
Major General Gravett will present the keynote address to the Friendly Educators group at the Proud Bird, 11022 Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, on Thursday, June 20, 2024 beginning at 1200 Noon.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books at the VFW State Conference at the Doubletree by Hilton in Anaheim, CA June 21-23, 2024.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books at the 105th American Legion State Conference at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, CA June 28-30, 2024.
Major General Gravett will sign books at the Glendora Veterans Collaborative event, at Kara’s Restaurant, 101 W. Glendora Blvd, Glendora, CA July 2, 2024.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books during the National Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 2024 Annual Conference, from 8 am to 4 pm August 2-7, 2024 held at the Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dana Point Post 9934, South Shores Church-Meeting Center, 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Dana Point, CA at 6 pm on September 10, 2024.
Major General Gravett will sign books at the LAPD Annual Ebony Picnic at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, 4100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90056-1100, on Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 10 am to 4 pm.
Major General Gravett will sign books at the British United Services Club Mess Night, Altadena Town & Country Club, Altadena, CA on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 6 pm.
Major General Gravett will sign books at the Pomona African American Museum of Beginnings, 1460 E. Holt Ave, Bldg 3, Pomona, CA on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2 pm.
Major General Gravett will present and sign books at the Martin-Springer Institute, Northern Arizona University “mini-series” titled: Fighting for Freedom: Diversity in the U.S. Military in World War II, in Flagstaff, AZ on October 22, 2024 at 7 pm.
Major General Gravett will sign books at the Peninsula Breakfast Club, Red Onion Restaurant, 736 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 7:30 am.
Major General Gravett will present and sign books at the General Patton Memorial Museum, 62510 Chiriaco Road, Chiriaco Summit, CA, on November 11, 2024 at 11 am.
Major General Gravett will attend and sign books at the State Guard Association national conference, at the Hilton Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach CA on Friday, November 15, 2024.
