Black WWII vet denied officer status because of race commissioned 75 years later

(FOX NEWS) -- A black World War II veteran who was denied status as a U.S. Army officer because of his race finally received his commission 75 years later.

John Edward James, Jr., 98, was commissioned as a second lieutenant on Friday during a ceremony at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

From Johnstown, James was drafted into the military in 1941. He spent his time serving in the war as a corporal, working as a typist with a quartermaster battalion supplying front-line combat units in North Africa and Italy for three years. After the war, he married and worked for the U.S. Postal service until his retirement in 1976.

He attended officer candidate school at Fort Benning in Georgia, but the day before he was supposed to be commissioned, he was told he wouldn't be made an officer and was being transferred.

During World War II, it was common for black soldiers to be denied commissions when assigned to predominantly white units. It was also against Army regulations for white soldiers to be subordinate to black soldiers at the time.

When James' daughter, Marion Lane, found a photo in 2001 of his graduation, she said he told her to "throw it away because it meant nothing."

Lane didn't give up though.

"Tenacity is my middle name," she said, failing to give up on her father's status. Lane then worked to get James officially commissioned.

The Army Review Board denied Lane's application on behalf of her father multiple times due to insufficient evidence. Some records were reportedly destroyed in a fire. It was finally secured, however, with the help of Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.

"Although not awarded the commission owed to him, he bravely rose to face one of our most challenging times in history," Casey said. "He was denied recognition of his service to his country simply because of his race, because of the color of his skin."

According to the museum, James received a number of awards for his service, including a Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and a European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.