Overview

As a child, Cynthia Ren Doss asked her father what he did each day he reported to work as a United States Army soldier. He would reply with quips she felt minimized the importance of his job, intensifying her curiosity. After receiving a copy of his military service record when he died, she begins researching the 76th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, the unit he fought with in the Korean War. When her research efforts are unsuccessful, she turns to her brother, Cyril, a retired United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer. He sheds light on the lack of records informing her that when their father joined the service in 1947, the military was still segregated, with the contribution of what were known as ""colored units"" less documented. A mental switch flips inside her head. She realizes her father successfully completed his missions despite being in command of men that quite probably resented taking orders from a Black man. Excavating her father's service record as much as her own memories, Cynthia Ren Doss offers an eye-opening look at what it was like growing up as a Black ""military brat"" in Germany, navigating through adolescence in tumultuous 1960's America and through modern day adulthood in Southern California. After the dutiful daughter and her siblings lay their parents to rest, she is determined to pay tribute to a man who gracefully balanced the roles of both loving father and loyal soldier. Black Officer, White Army brings to life the lessons gleaned from her father, while acknowledging herself as an embodiment of his legacy.

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Cynthia Doss' story of her father is a reminder of the individuals among us who possess quiet modesty which unfortunately allows their accomplishments to be overlooked and under celebrated. Her father kept the details of his life achievements to himself only to be uncovered by his inquisitive daughter. It is a journey not to be missed. Jeff Duclos, Senior Editor, C Force A sobering and important take on a turbulent time in American history as seen through the eyes of a young Black woman who is determined to be a force of cultural change. Lisa Udelson, Writer/Director, Filmmaker So much of memoir these days is dedicated to sharing the darker sides of family life; i.e. questionable parenting, abuse. This memoir is a breath of fresh air. It does not shy away from the truth, but highlights the warmth, love and gratitude Cynthia Doss has for her father and family. Trish Cantillon, Essayist

Author Information

Cynthia Ren Doss published her first memoir, That Quiet Voice: A Memoir of Hope in 2018. The writer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Kansas State University, a Master of Public Administration degree and Post-Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration from the University of Southern California, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Peacebuilding from California State University Dominguez Hills and a Creative Writing Certificate from the University of California Los Angeles Extension. She lives in Southern California.

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