BHS Day 25: Frederick Branch

Hi! For our last MTS Spotlight we're going back to the Military third and featuring someone who was able to break through the ceiling of the military at a time where Blacks were still largely discouraged and even barred from serving alongside their White contemporaries. Not only was today's entrant part of the first class of Black soldiers able to serve in all branches, but he was the official first to reach an important level in the most difficult military branch. I've always wondered how that must have felt for Black soldiers back then; to be drafted and required to serve a country that ultimately didn't serve them. Many of the soldiers still bravely and willingly laid down their lives but that had to be an awful pill to swallow. But if they didn't swallow that pill and press on, who knows what would have happened. It takes courage I don't have, I'll tell ya that. Let's get to today's entrant!

Source

Name: Frederick Clinton Branch, 1922-2005

Profession: US Marine Corps officer, instructor

Why is the Spotlight on him today? For breaking through the race ceiling in the US Marine Corps  and bravely serving our country

Notables:
--Was the first African-American to become a commissioned officer in the Marine Corp Reserve
--Was a member of the 'Montfort Port Marines' from Montfort Port, NC
--Was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity while attending Johnson C. Smith University
--Was the only African-American member of his officer training class and made the dean's list
--Was honored by having a Marine officer training school in Virginia named after him
--Served at Camp Pendleton during the Korean War and was in command of an anti-aircraft training platoon
--Reached the rank of Captain before leaving his military career behind due to continued discrimination and racism
--Is the namesake of a scholarship given out by the Marine Corps Recruiting Command for aspiring Marine officers
--Was honored by the NAACP in 2004 for his accomplishments
--Created a science department at the high school where he taught until his retirement

Further reading links: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4


Quote of the Day: 
"They told me to shut that blankety-blank stuff up about being an officer. 'You ain't going to be no officer.'"
--Frederick Branch