Meet the WWII veteran who integrated the US armed forces

A recent NPR author interview yielded a new suggestion for anyone seeking reading material for Black History Month.

Richard Gergel’s Unexampled Courage tells the story of Isaac Woodard, a black World War II veteran whose blinding by a white man ultimately led to the integration of the U.S. armed forces.

The author summarizes some of the key moments in Woodard’s life, as well as the unexpected effect of his book, in a conversation with Code Switch’s Karen Grigsby Bates.

You can listen to them below or read a transcript on NPR’s website.