Tom Ward to visit Hattiesburg to discuss roles of African Americans in Korean War

Among some historians, the Korean War is referred to as “America’s forgotten war” – especially when it comes to the role played by African American soldiers in that conflict.

To help shed light on that oversight, the Library of Hattiesburg Petal and Forrest County is partnering with the African American Military History Museum and USM’s Dale Center for the Study of War & Society for a special program with Thomas Ward, who serves as assistant dean of the School of Arts & Sciences and Farmingdale State College at the State University of New York. Ward will discuss that chapter in America’s history during a special presentation at 6 p.m. September 8 at the African American Military History Museum, located at 305 East Sixth Street in Hattiesburg.

“I’m really excited,” said Sean Farrell, library system director. “Tom’s an excellent historian … and it’s such a fascinating story.

“He’s dealt with other aspects of African American history before, (especially) a lot in the medical field. He’s such a good historian.”

Ward is an award-winning historian and a noted authority on issues of race and health care in the American South. He is the author of Black Physicians in the Jim Crow South and Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and its War on Poverty.

Ward has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the The New York Times and The Atlantic, and he regularly speaks at events throughout the nation. He is currently involved in a book project on Health Care and the Civil Rights Movement.

Ward, who lives with his wife and sons in Northport, New York, received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. He earned his master’s degree in history at Clemson University and his PhD in history from the University of Southern Mississippi.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, while the library was forced to utilize digital programming, Ward conducted a performance on President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

“He did a great job,” Farrell said. “I have heard Tom speak on his really great work on Black physicians (and he did an amazing job. When I read the article (on Black physicians), I knew that it would interest members of our community, and obviously interest library users.

“We’ve worked with both the African American Military History Museum on at least three or four projects, and we’ve worked with the Dale Center on a dozen projects or more. So I just though they would be the proper partners to make sure that we got the best response possible for Tom when he came down here.”

Vanessa Molden, who serves as operations and education supervisor at the African American Military History Museum, said museum officials are excited to Ward to come to the Hub City.

“This collaboration fits perfectly with our goals to educate and celebrate the contributions of African American service members to the country and the world; and of course, we are always delighted to welcome guests to the museum,” she said.

The Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, was fought between North Korea and South Korea, after the north invaded the south on June 25, 1950. Throughout the conflict, North Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union, while South Korea was supported by United Nations – and the United States in particular.

“The Dale Center is proud to play a part in bringing Dr. Ward back to Hattiesburg to talk about his important scholarship on the intersection of race and war in the 1950s,” said Kyle Zelner, co-director of the Dale Center.  “Sharing the latest scholarship on military history and war and society topics in accessible community outreach events is one of the main missions of the Dale Center, so we are delighted to be able to partner with the Hattiesburg library and the African American Military History Museum on this event. 

“ We are also pleased that Dr. Ward has agreed to share his historical and professional insights with our graduate students during his visit.”