Day 13 Black History Month 2021 - Benjamin O. Davis Sr.
Benjamin O. Davis Sr. (July 1, 1877 – November 26, 1970)
For day 13 of Black History Month, we’d like to highlight Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Sr., an American officer and educator, who became the first African American to rise to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army.
Immediately after graduating from Howard University in 1898, he enlisted in the United States Army to serve in the Spanish-American War. He achieved the rank of First Lieutenant with the 8th Volunteer Infantry, an all African-American unit. In 1899, he reenlisted as a private and joined the 9th Calvary. He would soon be promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and then be reassigned to the 10th Calvary - (the 9th and 10th Calvary Units where better known as the “Buffalo Soldiers”).
In 1940, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by Franklin D. Roosevelt, becoming the first African American to hold the rank of General in the United States Army. He served as the Brigade Commander with 2nd Calvary Division in Fort Riley Kansas and was also assigned the duty as the Assistant to the Inspector General in Washington D.C.
Throughout his military career, he was confronted with and fought against racism, segregation and discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces. He lobbied to end segregation and introduce racial integration in the military. He acted as mentor to black troops during World War 2 and is noted as being a diplomatic negotiator on racial problems and was an advisor to General Dwight Eisenhower on integration in the Army. In 1945, he was awarded the distinguished service medal for his “wise advice and council, that brought about a fair and equitable solution to many important problems.”
In the 86-year time span from the end of the Civil War, to the start of World War 2, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., was 1 of 8 officers in the United States military. Due in part to his service and sacrifices, there are now over 10,000 African American officers currently serving in the United States armed forces.
For day 13 of Black History Month, we’d like to highlight Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Sr., an American officer and educator, who became the first African American to rise to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army.
Immediately after graduating from Howard University in 1898, he enlisted in the United States Army to serve in the Spanish-American War. He achieved the rank of First Lieutenant with the 8th Volunteer Infantry, an all African-American unit. In 1899, he reenlisted as a private and joined the 9th Calvary. He would soon be promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and then be reassigned to the 10th Calvary - (the 9th and 10th Calvary Units where better known as the “Buffalo Soldiers”).
In 1940, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by Franklin D. Roosevelt, becoming the first African American to hold the rank of General in the United States Army. He served as the Brigade Commander with 2nd Calvary Division in Fort Riley Kansas and was also assigned the duty as the Assistant to the Inspector General in Washington D.C.
Throughout his military career, he was confronted with and fought against racism, segregation and discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces. He lobbied to end segregation and introduce racial integration in the military. He acted as mentor to black troops during World War 2 and is noted as being a diplomatic negotiator on racial problems and was an advisor to General Dwight Eisenhower on integration in the Army. In 1945, he was awarded the distinguished service medal for his “wise advice and council, that brought about a fair and equitable solution to many important problems.”
In the 86-year time span from the end of the Civil War, to the start of World War 2, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., was 1 of 8 officers in the United States military. Due in part to his service and sacrifices, there are now over 10,000 African American officers currently serving in the United States armed forces.