August 2, 1951 William Henry Thompson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest decoration, for his actions during the Korean War. Not much is known of Thompson’s early life other than he was born August 16, 1927 in New York City. On August 6, 1950, he was serving as a private first […]
Tag Archives | Korean War
April 19th in African American History – Joseph B. Williams, Sr.
April 19, 1992 Joseph B. Williams, Sr., the first African American graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, died. Williams was born in Annapolis, Maryland and graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942. In 1942, he graduated from the academy and served in the U. S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War.
March 9th in African American History – Lawrence Joel
March 9, 1967 President Lyndon Johnson presented the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military decoration, to Lawrence Joel. Joel was the first living African American to receive the medal since the Spanish-American War. Joel was born February 22, 1928 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He joined the United States Army in 1946 and served in the […]
February 11th in African American History – Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr.
February 11, 1920 Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., the first African American to achieve the rank of General, was born in Pensacola, Florida. James earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee Institute in 1942. During World War II, he trained pilots but during the Korean War he flew 101 combat missions. In 1957, James graduated […]
February 7th in African American History – Eugene Ashley, Jr.
February 7, 1968 Eugene Ashley, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient, died. Ashley was born October 12, 1931 in Wilmington, North Carolina but raised in New York City. Ashley joined the United States Army in 1950 and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. On February 6, 1968, while serving as a sergeant first class in […]
October 30th in African American History – John Youie Woodruff
October 30, 2007 John Youie Woodruff, Olympic champion, died. Woodruff was born July 5, 1915 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. As a 21 year old college freshman, Woodruff won the 800 meter Gold Medal at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympic Games.
October 11th in African American History – Malvin Greston Mal Whitfield
October 11, 1924 Malvin Greston “Mal” Whitfield, track athlete and diplomat, was born in Bay City, Texas. In 1943, Whitfield joined the United States Army Air Force and became a member of the Tuskegee Airmen with whom he flew 27 combat missions during the Korean War. After World War II he enrolled at Ohio State […]