In observance of Black History Month, the History Department at Washington State University in Pullman will offer a public lecture on Feb. 14 at 12:10 p.m.
George Tamblyn, who currently teaches Europen History at WSU Vancouver, will present a lecture titled “African Americans in the U.S. Military: From the Revolution to Iraq” in Murrow 53/55.
Tamblyn earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, a juris doctor degree from Cornell Law School, two master’s degrees from the University of Edinburgh in World War II studies and from the University of Washington in American history. He has completed all but the dissertation work toward his doctorate degree in history at the University of Washington. His dissertation will deal with courts-martial of African-Americans during the Korean War.
“African-Americans have served in virtually every military conflict that the U.S. has been involved in,” Tamblyn said. “They have had an impact on the military, and the military has had an impact on them.
“While, as in the civilian world, there have been tragic and reprehensible racial events in the military, I believe that the black experience in the military has, for the most part, been positive both for the black servicemen and women and for the American military. At the core, the military depends on the performance of soldiers and the soldiers’ dependence on each other. Performance trumps race,” Tamblyn said.
