African American Veterans and a History of Heroism

Aaron Kassraie,

AARP

En español

Published February 03, 2023

Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by African American veterans who have served our country with distinction. From the Civil War to the present day, these heroes have broken barriers, made history and, in some instances, sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Take a closer look at their stories of service and valor.

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Civil War: U.S. Army Sgt. William H. Carney

World War I: U.S. Army Sgt. Henry Johnson

World War II: U.S. Navy Mess Attendant 2nd Class Doris “Dorie” Miller

Korean War: U.S. Army Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton

Vietnam War: Pfc. Milton Olive III

Gulf War: Gen. Colin Powell

War in Afghanistan, Iraq: Sfc. Alwyn Cashe

Civil War: U.S. Army Sgt. William H. Carney

Sergeant William Harvey Carney after the war, wearing his Medal of Honor, ca. 1901-1908. Army Sgt. William H. Carney was the first of the nation’s 88 African-American Medal of Honor recipients, earning the medal during the Union Army’s charge on Fort Wagner during the Civil War.

James E Reed, Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University. Public Domain; U.S. Army photo.

Born into slavery, Carney secretly was schooled despite restrictions banning Blacks from learning to read and write. In March 1863, he joined the Union Army and that July, during a charge on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, his unit’s color guard was shot. Carney caught the falling U.S. flag and held it upright, never letting it touch the ground despite sustaining gunshot wounds and nearly losing his life. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

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World War I: U.S. Army Sgt. Henry Johnson

Sgt. Henry Johnson of the 369th Infantry Regiment was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for bravery during an outnumbered battle with German soldiers, Feb. 12, 1919

Danvis Collection / Alamy Stock Photo; Public Domain/U.S. Army

Johnson was a member of the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, during World War I. He suffered 21 combat injuries during a surprise German attack while on night duty in France. Despite the wounds, he managed to protect his fellow soldiers from capture using only a knife. Johnson was awarded the French Croix de Guerre avec Palme, the country’s highest award for valor.

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World War II: U.S. Navy Mess Attendant 2nd Class Doris “Dorie” Miller

Dorie Miller service photo; Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, pinning the Navy Cross on Doris "Dorie" Miller, Steward's Mate 1/c, at a ceremony on board a U.S. Navy warship in Pearl Harbor, on May 27, 1942. Miller got the Navy Cross for his bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and was the first black American to receive the award.

Stocktrek Images, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo; Official US Navy Photo/IanDagnall Computing / Alamy Stock Photo

During the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, Miller, a cook on the USS West Virginia, manned a machine gun despite having no training and successfully fired at Japanese aircraft. For his bravery, he was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross.

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Korean War: U.S. Army Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton

Korean War soldier Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton

RP Library / Alamy Stock Photo

Charlton took charge of his platoon when its leader was injured and had to be evacuated. Despite receiving a serious chest wound, Charlton refused medical treatment and led a third charge against the enemy, saving many soldiers in his platoon. He died of his wounds and posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

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Vietnam War: Pfc. Milton Olive III

Portrait of Private First Class Milton Lee Olive III (1946 - 1965) of the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Phu Cuong, South Vietnam, October 22, 1965. President Lyndon Johnson presents the Medal of Honor to Mr. and Mrs. Olive, parents of PFC Milton Olive III, who died in Vietnam to save four comrades by throwing himself on an enemy grenade

Olive made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War to save the lives of his comrades. When a grenade was thrown into the midst of his unit, Olive quickly grabbed it and fell on it, costing him his life. He was the first African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War.

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Gulf War: Gen. Colin Powell

American First Lady Barbara Bush (1925 - 2018) fastens the Presidential Medal of Freedom around the neck of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff US Army General Colin Powell, as US President George HW Bush (1924 - 2018), watches during a ceremony in the White House's East Room, Washington DC, July 3, 1991. Later photo of Powell as Secretary of Defense.

Howard L. Sachs/CNP/Getty Images; Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo

After serving two tours in Vietnam, Powell was the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overseeing Operation Desert Storm and ultimately the defeat of Iraq. He would in 2000 become the first Black secretary of state, nominated by George W. Bush. He received numerous military awards and decorations, including recognition from over two dozen countries.

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