Black Americans served in every major U.S. military conflict from the Revolutionary War onward except the 1848 Mexican War. However, they were almost always restricted to segregated, black-only units - usually with white officers - until after the Korean War. President Harry S. Truman issued an executive order in 1948 that mandated "equality of treatment... in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin." By October 1953, the Army announced that 95 percent of black soldiers were serving in integrated units.

By when was segregation of black soldiers effectively ended?