Search results
Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr. (July 1, 1877 – November 26, 1970) 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.
Davis wanted to become an Army Air Forces (AAF) pilot, but was not allowed because the military was still segregated and a Black flying unit didn’t exist. Instead, to keep him from commanding white units, he was sent to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to teach Reserved Officers Training.
Jun 27, 2024 · Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. (born July 1, 1877, Washington, D.C., U.S.—died November 26, 1970, North Chicago, Illinois) was a soldier who became the first black general in the U.S. Army.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
In 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black person to achieve the rank of brigadier general in the US Army. His son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., later commanded the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
Feb 25, 2024 · In 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black person to achieve the rank of brigadier general in the US Army. His son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., later commanded the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
Davis first served in the segregated 8th Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a first lieutenant during the last year of the War with Spain. His regiment never saw action, and, in 1899, Davis decided to reenlist as a private in the regular Army after his regiment disbanded at the end of the war.
Nov 10, 2023 · Even in the face of racism and in a segregated military where Blacks weren’t allowed to command white troops, Ben Sr. persisted, fueled by his tenacity, discipline, and commitment to being the ...
