My Inspiration: African American Military Heroes
As some of you know, I started my professional career as a Marine Officer. The opportunity I was provided to serve my country and (most especially) other young Marines, is still the highest honor of my professional life. In the spirit of Black History Month, I felt moved to take a moment to honor the American heroes who inspired me to service.
Crispus Attucks
Crispus Attucks is widely recognized as the first casualty of the American War for Independence. Crispus was the son of a an enslaved African man and a native American woman from the Wampanoag tribe. Before the War, at the age of 27, Attucks escaped from his own enslavement in Framingham, Massachusetts. As a freedman, he made a living as sailor and rope maker. He was killed in action at the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770.
Sergeant William Carney & the 54h Massachusetts Regiment
Sgt Carney was born into slavery in Virginia in 1840. His family was eventually granted their freedom and relocated to Massachusetts. He originally had plans to pursue a career in the church, until the Civil War broke out. In March of 1863 William Carney joined the historic 54th Massachusetts regiment.
On July 18, 1863 Sgt Carney and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment were called on to assault Fort Wagner in Charleston, SC. During the assault, despite suffering serious wounds, Carney climbed up a hill to the walls of Fort Wagner, holding high the Union flag. His actions inspired other Union troops to follow him. While the battle continued for nearly two months, Sgt Carney’s gallantry was credited for inspiring the union on to eventually taking Fort Wagner in September of 1863.
For his bravery, Sgt Carney was awarded the Medal of Honor on May 23, 1900. He was the first of 88 (to date) African American Medal of Honor winners.
The Buffalo Soldiers
In 1866 six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments were created after Congress passed the Army Organization Act. Their main tasks were to help control the Native Americans of the Plains, capture cattle rustlers and thieves and protect settlers, stagecoaches, wagon trains and railroad crews along the Western front.
These regiments were given the nickname “Buffalo Soldiers” by the Native American tribes they encountered. The nickname was a coined as a term of respect, given for the ferocity of the Black soldiers when they encountered native warriors.
Colonel Charles Young
Charles Young was born into slavery in 1864 to Gabriel Young and Arminta Bruen. His father escaped from enslavement in 1865 and served in the 5th US Colored Heavy Artillery. Young’s mother was an advocate for education and ensured that the young Charles Young received a top-notch education.
In 1883, Young was accepted as one of the 1st African Americans to attend the US Military Academy at West Point. Young ultimately became the third African American graduate of the US Military Academy, first African American to be a National Park Superintendent, first black man to achieve the rank of Colonel, and highest-ranking black officer in the regular army until his death in 1922. In 1912, Col Young was inducted to my beloved fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Incorporated.
Montford Point Marines
The Montford Point Marines were the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps after President Franklin Roosevelt issues an Executive Order establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission in June 1941. The recruits trained at Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, NC from August 26, 1942 until the camp was decommissioned on September 9, 1949. The largest number of black Marines to serve in combat during WW II took part in the seizure of Okinawa, with approximately 2,000 seeing action.
General Frank Petersen
Lieutenant General Frank Petersen was the first African American to reach the rack of General in the US Marine Corps. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1950 as a seaman’s apprentice. In 1951, he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. In 1952, upon graduation from that program, he was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1967 and his master’s degree in 1973, both from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. In 1987 he was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Law degree granted by Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA. In 1979, Petersen was promoted to Brigadier General. At the time of his retirement, he was by date of aviator designation the senior ranking aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy with respective titles of “Silver Hawk” and “Grey Eagle”.
General Colin Powell
General Colin Powell had a career so big and broad that is hard to summarize in this short space. General Powell was the 3rd African American to reach the rank of four star General/Admiral, the first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (top military officer), first African American Secretary of State.
Sgt Morris Lockhart (USMC and US Army) — My Dad
Morris Lockhart, my Dad, is a special hero to me. Sgt. Lockhart has a long and honorable history of serving. My Dad was orphaned at age 14. At the age of 18, seeking a better way of life, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps as an MOS 0311 Rifleman.
He served in the Cuban Crisis in 1963 and did one tour of duty in Vietnam in 1964–1965 as an Infantryman with the rank of Corporal. During his tour in Vietnam, he served as a Squad Leader with the First Marine Division where the Marines provided security for the air field at Chula. After Vietnam and having served six years in the Marine Corps, my father left the Corps and transferred his service to the 80th Division, US Army Reserves as a Drill Sergeant.
Throughout his career, my father achieved both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. To this day, my Dad continues his service through educating the public of the rich oral history of African American service members in the military as a member of the Mark Matthews Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, Petersburg, VA and as a member of 23rd United States Colored Troops, Spotsylvania, VA.
A Thankful Conclusion
Despite the inequality of their treatment as citizens, Black Americans have proudly served in every war and conflict in the history of this great country. As an American, I am forever grateful for their service to the American notions of Freedom and Justice. As an African American, their service was and continues to be an inspiration for me. Thank you to all who have served.
