African American military history in February highlights key milestones, including the

February 19, 1942 initiation of the Tuskegee Airmen into the Army Air Forces and the

1973 commissioning of the USS Jesse L. Brown, the first ship named for a Black naval

officer. These figures fought discrimination to defend the U.S.

Key African American Military History Milestones in February:
Feb 17, 1973: The Navy commissioned the USS Jesse L. Brown, honoring the first

African American to complete basic flight training.

Feb 19, 1942: The Tuskegee Airmen were initiated into the U.S. Armed Forces, later
becoming known as the "Red-Tail Angels" during WWII.

Feb 23, 1979: Frank E. Peterson Jr. was promoted to brigadier general, becoming the

first Black general in the Marine Corps.

Feb 21, 2017: The keel was laid for the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), a

guided-missile destroyer. 

Other significant figures and facts:

Revolutionary War: Peter Salem fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Modern Leadership: General Colin Powell served as the first Black Chairman of the

Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Segregation & Service: Over 1 million Black men and women served in WWII despite

ongoing segregation.

Memorials: The African American Civil War Memorial; Museum in Washington, D.C.

preserves the legacy of 200,000 soldiers.