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African American Firsts in the Military

BENJAMIN OLIVER DAVIS, SR.

THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL OFFICER IN THE REGULAR ARMY AND IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES

CAPTAIN DELLA H. RANEY

The first African-American nurse commissioned a lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II.

EUGENE BALLARD

The world's first black combat aviator

ANNIE GRIMES

1st African American female Marine Officer

THE 54TH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT

2nd LT. EMILY REREZ

Medical Service Corps officer assigned to the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

A LFORD L. McMICHAEL

Served as the 14th Sergeant Major of the U.S. Marine Corps, and the first Senior Non-Commissioned Officer for Allied Command Operations for NATO

SHAWNA ROCHELLE KIMBRELL

First Black Female Fighter Pilot in the Air Force

MAJ. GEN. ROBERT BAILEY

Bailey is the first African-American to command the oldest, largest and most decorated division in the United States Marine Corps

LT. COL. KATE GERMANO

Commanding officer of 4th Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, who led the service's only all-female recruit battalion.

MONTFORD POINT MARINES

VICE ADMIRAL

MICHELLE JAMINE HOWARD

The first African-American woman promoted to a three-star rank in the U.S. armed forces, as she became a Deputy Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces.

“First” African-Americans in the Navy Medical Department

2ND CLASS RUTH C. ISAACS, KATHERINE HORTON, and INEZ PATTERSON

The first African-American women to graduate Hospital Corps School, Bethesda, Md

FRANK E. PETERSON, JR.

First Black General in the Marine Corps!

SAMUEL LEE GRAVELY, JR

The first African-American Navy Admiral

GEN. JAMES, Lt, GENERAL JAMES and CHIEF MASTER SGT. of the AIR FORCE BARNES

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Remembering

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Retired Army Brig. Gen. Henry Huntley was just a 7-year-old boy when he first saw his mother cry

First All-Black Military Unit | Black American Heroes

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