Three World War II-set works can be watched free on YouTube.
The Veteran Documentary Corps (VDC) is a filmmaking collective based in California dedicated to telling veterans’ stories. As they describe themselves on their website, “Veterans from every era and every walk of life, including those who have faced unique challenges, can find representation in our films.”
For Black History Month, the collective is promoting a trio of documentaries available free to watch on the YouTube channel of its distributor El Dorado Films:
“Montford Point Marines: Breaking Barriers in the U.S. Military” “The first Black Marines,” the group trained at North Carolina’s Montford Point, near Camp Lejeune, during World War II. Four films tell individual Marines’ stories.
“Black Women & WWII: Unsung Heroes” The 6888th Central Postal Battalion was “the only all-Black, all-female unit deployed overseas during World War II.” Tasked with clearing a massive backlog of undelivered mail, these women worked tirelessly under challenging conditions to boost morale and ensure soldiers received messages from home. The American Legion Magazine did a feature on the 6888th in its February 2021 issue.
“Remembering Port Chicago” In California’s Bay Area during World War II, “hundreds of the Navy’s first Black sailors perished in a catastrophic explosion, yet the white officers in charge faced no consequences. The tragedy and its aftermath sparked a courageous stand for justice, laying the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement within the U.S. military. Along with the film, we’re also sharing exclusive extras that shed light on this critical moment in history.”
- Honor & Remembrance