when black g.i.s returned home from the vietnam war, they were denied the money promised to them to support their education and help them buy homes. while only 9.5% of soldiers serving in vietnam were black, they comprised nearly 20% of front line troops, and 25% or more of airborne divisions. black servicemen were twice as likely to re-enlist in the navy, marine corps and air force and three times as likely to re-enlist in the army as their white counterparts, not for any sense of adventure, but because they found the monetary rewards to be promising and they were treated as equals or near equals.