Submitted by ben.robbins@fu-... on Thu, 2017-11-02 14:52
According to Charles, it "doubtless" was some "brass-hatted theorist in Personnel" in the Army who is behind the decision to have Devries put in command of "Negro infantry" because he is a "Southerner" (339).
Submitted by ben.robbins@fu-... on Thu, 2017-11-02 14:48
During World War II, the U.S. Army gave black soldiers a larger role in combat than at any time since the Civil War, but (as in the Union Army) segregated them into separate units which were commanded by white officers. This icon represents the "Negro infantry" (probably a regiment) whom Colonel Devries commands (339).
Submitted by ben.robbins@fu-... on Thu, 2017-11-02 14:37
This figure is the "one veteran Klansman" who speaks in the story, seeming to acknowledge the defeat of his organization by "a handful of school-teachers and editors and Sunday School superintendents" (333).
Submitted by ben.robbins@fu-... on Thu, 2017-11-02 14:28
Only one member of Clarence Snopes' gang is mentioned separately: his "lieutenant," the "second-in-command" (330). He is not described in more detail, but when he "tried to trade on the old relationship" after Snopes becomes a constable, Snopes' treatment of him is described as "savage" (330).
Submitted by ben.robbins@fu-... on Thu, 2017-11-02 14:12
Clarence Snopes's gang frequently "beat up Negroes" (328). After Clarence becomes a constable, the novel states that the "first few Negroes who ran afoul of his new official capacity suffered for it" (329).
The story does not say where Colonel Devries commands a unit of "Negro troops" during World War II (339). But the fact that Devries is in the "regular army" (338) rather than the Marine Corps, which did most of the fighting in the Pacific, it is more likely that Faulkner has the European theater in mind.
