When asked why such soldiers never received mainstream attention, he replied: “They weren’t systematically recorded in the history books and erased. The most heroic moments were favoured and retold over and over again.”
“But the stories of black and brown soldiers were never told.
“In fact, the reason we called the show ‘Erased’ is because they were erased from view, erased from being talked about, it’s not real, because some of these people, their families, their legacies are still alive.
“But the cameras were almost purposefully kept away from them, so I think that’s why these stories aren’t as well known.”
Elba said he’s had a hard time finding details about his maternal grandfather for this very reason.
“I wanted my grandfather’s memoir – where he was, where he was going, what he was doing, how he made decisions.”
Corporal Waverly B. Woodson’s father served as a combat medic with the 320th Air Defense Balloon Battalion, and Steven Woodson said the documentary helped him understand the hardships his father endured.
“He was a truly heroic man and would do anything for his comrades.”
The series is set to be released on Monday, a week and a half before the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.