It is somewhat disingenuous to view the time through the prism of our contemporary standpoint.
Black people were still rare in Western society and the prevalent attitude was that they were 'inferior.'
Measure then, the sheer courage of the man just to exist in that climate. To put yourself in that climate of abuse, probably bordering on hatred, week after week after week, would daunt even the bravest of men.
Add to that the patriotism, whatever your view of the word. to go and fight for a country that doesn't recognise you, into an industrialised killing machine, and show yourself to be a leader of men?
The man was a colossus, and it has long been remiss of the club to ignore the fact.