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Synopsis
Throughout an illustrious career that spanned the half-century from the Spanish-American War through World War II, Benjamin O. Davis proved that determination and diplomacy could overcome the barriers raised by racial bigotry.
Today there are as many as 10,000 black officers in the army. In Davis's day there weren't more than two or three. As Marvin Fletcher's admiring but balanced portrait shows, this enormous change owes not a little to the persistent efforts and quiet dignity of Benjamin O. Davis. Davis helped "lay the foundation for the integration of the armed forces, the first major break in the wall of segregated America."
Born into the black middle class of Washington, D.C., Davis maintained a lifelong love for the military, despite the debilitating effects of the army's segregation policies. Such policies repeatedly denied Davis promotions and meant " safe assignments"—Liberia, Tuskegee Institute, Wilberforce University—designed to keep him from commanding white troops. It took thirty years from his enlistment until his promotion to colonel, and another decade before he became America's first black general
Promoted to brigadier general at the start of World War II, Davis headed a special section that monitored black military units at home and overseas, investigated an increasing number of racial disturbances, and bolstered the black soldier's morale. He was largely responsible for persuading the Army to try a limited form of integration. The success of that effort led to a federal mandate for the integration of the entire American armed forces.
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About the Author
Marvin E. Fletcher is professor of history at Ohio University and the author of The Black Soldier and Officer in the United States Army, 1891-1917 and The Peacetime Army, 1900 to 1941: A Research Guide.
Review
"A 'must read' for anyone interested in the details and personalities involved in the racial integration of the American military." -- Airpower Journal
"Davis's life raises questions about an important topic--the extraordinary accomplishments of African-American soldiers..." --Journal of Southern History
"Here is a portrait of a remarkable man. Recommended." --American Library Association Booklist
"This splendid study of the first black Army officer to attain flag rank is also a powerful analysis of race relations..." --Military Review
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherUniv Pr of Kansas
- Publication date1989
- ISBN 10 0700603816
- ISBN 13 9780700603817
- BindingHardcover
- LanguageEnglish
- Edition number1
- Number of pages216
- Rating
Search results for America's First Black General: Benjamin O. Davis,...
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America's First Black General: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., 1880-1970 (Modern War Studies)
Seller: HPB-Red, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
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hardcover. Condition: Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_364299964
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America's First Black General: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., 1880-1970 (Modern War Studies)
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
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Condition: Fair. Acceptable/Fair condition. Book is worn, but the pages are complete, and the text is legible. Has wear to binding and pages, may be ex-library. 0.95. Seller Inventory # 353-0700603816-acp
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America's First Black General: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr, 1880-1970 (Modern War Studies)
Published by
Univ Pr of Kansas, 1989
ISBN 10: 0700603816
ISBN 13: 9780700603817
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Unique Books, Lexington, KY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. b-398 DJ has minor edge wear. Previous owner's name on ffep. Seller Inventory # b-412-23
Quantity: 1 available
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America's First Black General; Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. 1880-1970
Published by
University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 1989
ISBN 10: 0700603816
ISBN 13: 9780700603817
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Ground Zero Books, Ltd., Silver Spring, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very good. Dust Jacket Condition: good. First Printing [Stated]. xix, [1], 226, [2] pages. "With the compliments of" card laid in. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. DJ has some wear, soiling, edge tears and chips. Sticker residue on front flap. Some edge soiling. Foreword by General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Professor Marvin Fletcher has supervised M.A. theses and Ph.D. dissertations in both African American and U.S. Military History, the most recent being (2009) Jeff Reardon's "Evolution of the U.S. Navy into an effective night fighting force in the Solomon Islands, 1942-43." Fletcher has published several books in African American military history including Negro Soldiers and Officers in the United States Army, 1891-1917 and America's First Black General: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., 1880-1970. He has also done an annotated bibliography of the peacetime U.S. Army between 1900 and 1940. He has published articles and reviews in both of his fields. He also has researched a history of the Gold Star Mothers pilgrimage, 1929-1933. He also participated in a television documentary on this subject. Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr. (1880 - November 26, 1970) was a United States Army officer. He was the first African-American to rise to the rank of general in the U.S. military. He was the father of Air Force General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. After graduating from high school, in response to the start of the Spanish-American War, Davis entered the military service on July 13, 1898, as a temporary first lieutenant in the 8th United States Volunteer Infantry, an all-black unit. Davis was mustered out on March 6, 1899, and on June 18, 1899, he enlisted as a private in Troop I, 9th Cavalry Regiment (one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments), of the Regular Army. Davis was assigned to the Tuskegee University, Alabama, as the professor of military science and tactics from 1920 to 1924. He then served for five years as an instructor with 2nd Battalion, 372nd Regiment, Ohio National Guard, in Cleveland, Ohio. In September 1929, Davis returned to Wilberforce University as professor of military science and tactics. He was assigned to the Tuskegee Institute in the early part of 1931, and remained there for six years as professor of military science and tactics. During the summer months of 1930 to 1933, Davis escorted pilgrimages of World War I Gold Star mothers and widows to the burial places of their loved ones in Europe. In August 1937, Davis returned to Wilberforce University as professor of military science and tactics. Davis was assigned to the 369th Regiment, New York National Guard, during the summer of 1938, and took command of the regiment a short time later. Davis was promoted to brigadier general on October 25, 1940, becoming the first African-American general in the United States Army. Davis became commanding general of 4th Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, in January 1941. About six months later, he was assigned to Washington, D.C. as an assistant in the Office of the Inspector General. While serving in the Office of the Inspector General, Davis also served on the Advisory Committee on Negro Troop Policies. From 1941 to 1944, Davis conducted inspection tours of African-American soldiers in the United States Army. From September to November 1942 and again from July to November 1944, Davis made inspection tours of African-American soldiers stationed in Europe. On November 10, 1944, Davis was reassigned to work under Lieutenant General John C. H. Lee as special assistant to the commanding general, Communications Zone, European Theater of Operations. He served with the General Inspectorate Section, European Theater of Operation (later the Office of the Inspector General on Europe) from January through May 1945. While serving in the European Theater of Operations, Davis was influential in the proposed policy of integration using replacement units. After serving in the European Theater of Operations for more than a year, Davis returned to Washington, D.C. as assistant to the inspector general. In 1947 he was assigned as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Army. In this capacity, he was sent to Liberia in July 1947 as a representative of the United States for the African country's centennial celebration. On July 20, 1948, after fifty years of military service, Davis retired in a public ceremony with President Harry S. Truman presiding. From July 1953 through June 1961, he served as a member of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Seller Inventory # 73020
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AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK GENERAL Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., 1880-1970
Published by
University Press of Kansas, Kansas, 1989
ISBN 10: 0700603816
ISBN 13: 9780700603817
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Rare Book Cellar, Pomona, NY, U.S.A.
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Hardcover. First Edition; Second Printing. Near Fine in a Very Good+ dust jacket. ; Modern War Studies; 8.6 X 5.6 X 1.1 inches; 216 pages. Seller Inventory # 167803
Quantity: 1 available
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America's First Black General: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., 1880-1970 (Modern War Studies)
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hardcover. Condition: New. 0.9500. Seller Inventory # VIB0700603816
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America's First Black General: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., 1880-1970 (Modern War Studies)
Seller: BennettBooksLtd, North Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
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hardcover. Condition: New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!. Seller Inventory # Q-0700603816
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