Robert Smalls – Civil War Hero, Black political leader during Reconstruction. Smalls had won freedom for himself and his family, and was a famous war hero.
Carney was promoted to sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry in battle. He was the first black service member to be awarded the medal.
The 761st Tank Battalion – also known as the “Black Panthers” – was the first African American tank battalion to see combat in World War II. The unit’s motto was “Come Out Fighting” and that’s just what they did.
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour made history as the first Black woman aviator for the U.S. Marines, and also became the first Black woman combat pilot across the U.S. Armed Forces.
Several years ago, retired Lt. Col. Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell made headlines when she made her childhood dream a reality and became the first-ever Black female fighter pilot of the U.S. Air Force.
Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr. was a career officer in the United States Army. One of the few black officers in an era when American society was largely segregated, in 1940 he was promoted to brigadier general, the army’s first African American general officer.
