Black Firsts in U.S. Military History - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

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Black Firsts in U.S. Military History

HON. CLIFFORD ALEXANDER, JR ., first black Secretary of the Army

CAPT. ROSCOE BROWN , first American pilot to shoot down a German jet

MAJ. GEN. J. GARY COOPER, US Marine Corps, first black officer to lead Marines into battle in Vietnam

LT. GEN BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, JR., first black to become General in the US Air Force

BRIG. GEN. BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, SR ., first black General in the Regular Army

LT. HENRY O. FLIPPER , US Army, first black to graduate from West Point - 1877

REAR ADM. SAMUEL L. GRAVELY , first black to reach Admiral status in the US Navy

CAPT. CHARLES HALL , US Air Corps, the first black American to shoot down an enemy plane

GEN. DANIEL "CHAPPIE" JAMES, USAF , first black to reach 4-Star status in the military.

DR. MAE C. JEMISON, first black female astronaut

BRIG. GEN. HAZEL WINIFRED JOHNSON, first black female to attain the rank of General in the US Army

BRIG. GEN. MARCELITE JORDEN-HARRIS , first black female to attain the rank of General in the US Air Force

LT. GEN. FRANK E. PETERSEN, JR ., first black to attain the rank of General in the US Marine Corps

GEN. COLIN L. POWELL , US Army, first black to become Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

GEN. ROSCOE ROBINSON, JR ., first black to reach 4-Star status in the US Army

BRIG. GEN MATTHEW A. ZIMMERMAN , first black Chaplain to attain the rank of General