*Charles S. Schaeffer was born on this date in 1830. He was a white American soldier and educator. Charles (Charlie”) Stoever Schaeffer was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, to John and Sarah Stoever Schaeffer. He fought for the Union Army in the American Civil War and rose quickly in rank with the 1st Delaware Volunteers. During […]
learn more*The birth of Henrique Dias is celebrated on July 3, 1590. He was an Afro Brazilian Portuguese soldier and militia leader. From Bahia, Brazil, there is no agreement among historians whether he was born free or as a slave. He led a military regiment composed of enslaved and freed slaves and was known as “Governor […]
learn more*Woodford Anderson was born on this date in 1820. He was a Black soldier, cook, and laborer. Woodford Anderson was born a slave in Burlington, Kentucky. When he was 20 years old, he was sold to George Curtley, a captain in the Confederate Army, who took Anderson to Waverly, Missouri, where Anderson was a cook. […]
learn more*The British-built Fortress, Fort Hare, is established on this date in 1835. Fort Hare was in the foothills of the Amatola Mountains, near the Eastern Cape in South Africa. White-European colonization in the 17th century invaded the lives and territories of Black African peoples, mainly the Zulu and Xhosa. The Fort was originally constructed in […]
learn more*The 2nd United States Colored Cavalry Regiment was organized on this date in 1863. They were a Black military unit that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The 2nd Colored Cavalry Regiment was organized at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Fort Monroe was a critical Union stronghold on the Virginia coast that became […]
learn more*Sylvester Ray was born on this date in 1844. He was a Black soldier and military equality advocate. He was from Washington County, New York, a slave state. He joined the Union Army on December 18, 1863, and was a private in the Second US Colored Cavalry. In 1864, he refused to accept less pay […]
learn more*George S. Roberts was born on this date in 1918. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer and fighter pilot. George S “Spanky” Roberts was born in London, West Virginia, and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia. He was the son of Spencer Roberts and Estella Roberts. In 1934 Roberts graduated from Dunbar School […]
learn more*Charles DeBow was born on this date in 1918. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot, and teacher. Charles DeBow was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of Charles Henry DeBow of Lebanon, Tennessee, and Anna Sue Horne DeBow of Tennessee. DeBow’s parents moved from Tennessee to Indianapolis […]
learn more*Abbie Voorhies was born on this date in 1915. She was a Black nurse and military officer. Abbie Edith Voorhies was born in Louisiana and graduated from Kansas City General Hospital Nursing School in Missouri. Her first job was with Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. She said she joined the military after hearing that […]
learn more*Mac Ross was born on this date in 1912. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot. Mac Ross was born in rural Dallas County near Selma, Alabama, the son of Eddie Samuel “Sam” Ross and Willie B. Collins Ross. He had eight siblings: Eddie, Sammy, Jerry, Arthur, Suritha, Geniva, […]
learn more