From the Revolutionary War to the battlefields of Afghanistan, Black veterans have defended a democracy that too often denied them full citizenship. Their stories are a testament to resilience, excellence, and the unbreakable will to serve a nation that was still learning to serve them.
As we honor America’s veterans, The Black Wall Street Times highlights 10 of the most extraordinary Black veterans in history, men and women whose sacrifices and triumphs shaped both the military and the broader fight for equality.
1. Doris “Dorie” Miller: The Hero of Pearl Harbor
A Navy cook turned national hero, Doris “Dorie” Miller became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross after his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Despite having no formal weapons training, Miller carried wounded sailors to safety and manned an anti-aircraft gun against incoming Japanese planes. His valor inspired generations of Black service members during a time when the Navy was still segregated.
2. Major Charity Adams Earley: Commander of the 6888th Battalion
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—known as “The Six Triple Eight”- was the only all-Black, all-women battalion deployed overseas during World War II. Its commanding officer, Major Charity Adams Earley, led over 800 women who cleared a massive backlog of mail for U.S. troops in Europe.
Their motto, “No mail, low morale,”symbolized their crucial role in maintaining the spirit of soldiers on the front lines. Earley broke barriers and redefined what leadership looked like in the U.S. Army.
3. General Hazel Johnson-Brown: The Nurse Who Broke the Brass Ceiling
When Brigadier General Hazel Johnson-Brown was promoted in 1979, she became the first Black woman general in U.S. history and the first to lead the Army Nurse Corps.
Her career, which began in a segregated hospital, culminated in transforming military nursing education and leadership for future generations of women and nurses of color.
4. Sergeant Henry Johnson: The “Black Death” of the Harlem Hellfighters
As a member of the famed 369th Infantry Regiment, or “Harlem Hellfighters,” Henry Johnson fought off a dozen German soldiers with only a knife and his rifle.
Severely wounded, he saved a fellow soldier’s life and held the line alone. France awarded him the Croix de Guerre, and in 2015, nearly a century later, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
5. Eugene Jacques Bullard: The First Black Combat Pilot
Born in Georgia, Eugene Bullard fled racial violence in the U.S. and joined the French Foreign Legion during World War I. He later became the world’s first Black fighter pilot, flying over 20 combat missions.
Despite his heroism, he was denied the chance to fly for the U.S. when America entered the war because of his race.
France decorated him for his bravery; the U.S. would only recognize him decades later.
6. Master Diver Carl Brashear: The Man Who Refused to Sink
After losing part of his leg in a Navy accident, Carl Brashear fought his way back into service to become the first Black U.S. Navy Master Diver.
His unrelenting determination, depicted in the film Men of Honor, challenged racism, ableism, and doubt within the Navy and proved that excellence knows no color or condition.
7. William Harvey Carney: The Civil War’s First Black Medal of Honor Recipient
Fighting with the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, Sergeant William Harvey Carney saved the American flag from falling during the Battle of Fort Wagner, despite being shot multiple times.
His courage made him the first Black soldier to receive the Medal of Honor, setting a standard of valor for generations of troops to come.
8. General Benjamin O. Davis Sr.: The Army’s First Black General
In 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black general in U.S. Army history. His rise from Buffalo Soldier to brigadier general helped lay the foundation for desegregation in the armed forces.
His son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., would later lead the famed Tuskegee Airmen, making the Davis family synonymous with courage and leadership.
9. Isaac Woodard: A Veteran Whose Tragedy Sparked Change
Sergeant Isaac Woodard Jr., a World War II veteran, was brutally beaten and blinded by police in South Carolina hours after his honorable discharge.
His case shocked the nation, influencing President Harry Truman to desegregate the military and fueling early momentum for the Civil Rights Movement. His suffering became a catalyst for justice.
10. Major Martin Robison Delany: The Abolitionist Officer
A physician, abolitionist, and intellectual, Martin Robison Delany became the first Black field officer in the U.S. Army. A fierce advocate for African self-determination, Delany served in the Union Army’s U.S. Colored Troops and worked tirelessly to recruit formerly enslaved men to the cause of freedom.
Legacy of Black Veterans
At The Black Wall Street Times, we honor these heroes not just for their military achievements, but for their faith in a nation they helped transform one act of valor at a time.