Regarding Thomas Young's Uniform

A recent email posed a question about the costume worn by PROUD's Darnell Williams, who portrayed Thomas Young, the reporter on board the USS Mason. The email stated that while reporters did wear uniforms, they did not wear officer's uniforms.

Good observation and generally true. However, here's a picture of Mr. Young on board the USS Mason, published in the Norfolk Journal and Guide on September 2, 1944.

Young (right) was one of a small group of African American war correspondents. If it weren't for reporters like Thomas Young, the black community back home would have had almost no way of finding out about the heroism of African American troops during World War II.

Pictured with Young is Lt. Edward Ross, the Mason's Executive Officer.