*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*Lemuel Custis was born on this date in 1915. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot, Squadron Operations, and police officer. Lemuel Curtis was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, as the only child of Mary C. Goodwin Custis and Charles Custis. Lemuel Rodney Custis attended Hartford’s public schools, graduating from its […]
learn more*Alfonza W. Davis was born on this date in 1919. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot. Davis was born in Pensacola, Florida, and after his mother died in 1920, he moved with his father and brother to North Omaha, Nebraska. Davis graduated valedictorian from Omaha’s Technical High School […]
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