February 28, 1967 James Anderson, Jr., the first African American United States Marine recipient of the Medal of Honor, died in action. Anderson was born January 22, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. He enlisted in the marines in 1966. He was promoted to private first class after graduating from recruit training and sent to Vietnam […]
Tag Archives | Vietnam War
February 25th in African American History – Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr.
February 25, 1978 Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., the first African American to achieve the rank of general, died. James was born February 11, 1920 in Pensacola, Florida. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee Institute in 1942.
February 22nd in African American History – Lawrence Joel
February 22, 1928 Lawrence Joel, Medal of Honor recipient, was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Joel joined the United States Army in 1946 and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
December 2nd in African American History – Eugene Ashley, Jr.
December 2, 1969 The family of Eugene Ashley, Jr. was presented with the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military decoration, for his actions during the Vietnam War. Ashley was born October 12, 1931 in Wilmington, North Carolina, but raised in New York City. He joined the United States Army in 1950 and served in Korea […]
November 24th in African American History – Webster Anderson
November 24, 1969 Webster Anderson received the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military decoration, from President Richard M. Nixon. Anderson was born July 15, 1933 in Winnsboro, South Carolina. He joined the United States Army in 1953 and served during the Korean War. By October 15, 1967, he was serving as a staff sergeant in […]
October 22nd in African American History – Milton Lee Olive, III
October 22, 1965, Milton Lee Olive, III, the first African American Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War, was killed in action. Olive was born November 7, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Army at 17 and by 1965 was serving as a private first class in Vietnam. On October […]
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 […]