October 15, 2007 Ernest C. Withers, photojournalist, died. Withers was born August 7, 1922 in Memphis, Tennessee. He worked as a photographer in the United States Army during World War II and opened a studio in Memphis when he returned. He also worked for three years as one of the first African American police officers […]
Tag Archives | Army
October 14th in African American History – Oscar McKinley Charleston
October 14, 1896 Oscar McKinley Charleston, Negro League baseball player and manager, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Charleston joined the U. S. Army at the age of 15 and served in the Philippines. He began his professional baseball career in 1915 with the Indianapolis ABC’s and over his career he had a .348 batting average […]
October 9th in African American History – Eugene Jacques Bullard
October 9, 1894 Eugene Jacques Bullard, the only Black pilot in World War I, was born in Columbus, Georgia. While on a trip to Paris in 1914, World War I started and Bullard decided to join the French Foreign Legion. In 1916 he was wounded and awarded the Croix de Guerre. In 1917 he joined […]
October 5th in African American History – Oscar McKinley Charleston
October 5, 1954 Oscar McKinley Charleston, Negro League baseball player and manager, died. Charleston was born October 14, 1896 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He joined the U. S. Army at the age of 15 and served in the Philippines. He began his professional baseball career in 1915 with the Indianapolis ABC’s and over his career he […]
September 9th in African American History – Elvin Ray Jones
September 9, 1927 Elvin Ray Jones, jazz drummer, was born in Pontiac, Michigan. By the age of two, Jones had a fascination with drums and in high school he joined the marching band. Jones served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1949 and after his discharge began his professional career. Jones moved to […]