GabeJones, historically speaking, would never have been more thn a Sergeant anyway. During WW2 the US Army was still segregated and the Black units would have had Black NCOs, but the officers would have been white. Jones' presence in the Howling Commandos would never have been allowed in real life. But they would have had a Navaho 'windtalker'.

For a really interesting Black character in comics, I suggest taking a look at Evelyn Cream in the Miracleman series by Alan Moore.