Black History and Culture

Black Firsts in the Military

La'Shonda Holmes
First African American female helicopter in the United States Coast Guard

Benjamin O. Davis, Sr.
First African American to become a General in the US Army

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
First African American to become a General in the US Air Force

William H. Carney
First African American to
be awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor

Montford Point Marines

The first African Americans
to serve in the
United States Marines

Colin Powell
(front)
First African American to serve as Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff

Samuel L. Gravely, Jr.
First African American to command a United States warship

Henry O. Flipper
First African American
to graduate from
West Point Military Academy

Daniel "Chappie" James
First Black four-star General in the US Air Force

Hazel Johnson
(1927-2011)
First African American woman to become a General in the US Army

Daniel James III
First African American to serve as Director of the Air National Guard