Viewing page 22 of 72

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

PHOTOCOPIED OCTOBER 2, 2002; NASM PRESERVATION CO

^[[Congratulations Ben - Send me a picture with your stars on "Chick"]]

4-A  THE CHARLOTTE (N. C.) NEWS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1954

Nego Rose To General Faster Than His Father
By VERN HAUGLAND

WASHINGTON -- It took Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr., a descendant of slaves, 41 years to become a brigadier general. His son, Benjamin Jr., made it yesterday after 18 years. 

"And that's as it should be," said the senior Davis, now retired. "If my boy couldn't do better than I did, I'd feel that I had failed as a father."

When the elder Davis became a brigadier Oct. 20, 1940, at the age of 63, he was the first Negro to become a U.S. Army general.

Now, 14 years and a week later, his son is the first Negro brigadier general in the Air Force. 

"There are no other Negro generals, I am sorry to say," Davis told reporters. "Nor are there any admirals of my race. But these things are coming, what with the recent Supreme Court decision on segregation. 

"The things that are coming are for the best of all concerned. For one of the biggest blots on America, especially since we have assumed world leadership, is so called segregation."

Benjamin Jr., 41, stationed in Tokyo, is director of operations and training for the Far East Air Force. He was born here Dec. 18, 1912. He attended Western Reserve University and the University of Chicago before winning an appointment to West Point. Davis graduated 27th in his class at military academy in 1936 and was commissioned in the Army infantry.

When his father became a brigadier general, young Capt. Davis served for a time as the general's aide. Then he transferred to the Air Corps. 

He commanded the 99th Pursuit Squadron in North Africa in World 

[[image]]

GEN. DAVIS

War II, and later organized the 332nd Fighter Group and commanded it in the North African and Italian campaigns. He flew about 60 combat missions.