To clarify, if you were a black child voluntarily joining the US military in the 1950s they would let you do it. They did not check your ID or try to get in touch with your parents. They just let you say were an “adult” and would send you off to die for uncle sam. real fucked up shit that doesn’t get talked about much. i think they would even let white kids lie their age too, as long as they didn’t look like trust fund babies.

Yeah I mean I've talked to people who did this and knew people who did this as late as the 80s at least. You could lie about your age, lie about eyesight problems and other medical concerns, whatever. They didn't give a shit, regardless of race. At least in some places, I'm sure it depends on what branch and in what region specifically.