Final answer:
The Vietnam War was the first major conflict where the U.S. Army was fully integrated. Prior conflicts, such as World War II, saw African Americans serve heroically in segregated units. The integration in Vietnam reflected wider civil rights advances but still faced challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Vietnam War was the first major conflict in which African American and white soldiers were fully integrated in the U.S. Armed Forces. Although African Americans had served in each U.S. war, it wasn't until the Vietnam era that the military reflected true integration. This conflict also highlighted racial tensions, both in the military and in the United States, which occasionally erupted into incidents such as the race riot at Long Binh. Prior to Vietnam, the U.S. military was segregated, with African American soldiers predominantly serving in separate units under white officers or in noncombat roles, despite their active participation and heroism in battles across various wars, including the Civil War and World War II.
During World War I, African American soldiers like the Harlem Hellfighters saw combat, but still faced discrimination and prejudice. In World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen and other all-black units made invaluable contributions, yet segregation persisted. It was after World War II, largely due to pressures from civil rights groups and internal military reviews, that the path to integration began. However, full integration did not occur until the Vietnam War, providing a more equitable although still challenging military experience for African American soldiers.