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HEADQUARTERS 
310TH BOMBARDMENT WING, MEDIUM 
Smoky Hill Air Force Base 
Salina, Kansas 

20 November 1954 

Brigadier General Benjamin O Davis, Jr, USAF 
Director of Operations and Training 
Far East Air Force 
APO 323 
San Francisco, California 

Dear Ben: 

While listening to a recent national broadcast by one of the fore-most commentators I heard it preexisted that one, Benjamin O Davis, Jr, would be promoted to Brigadier General in the very near future. Shortly thereafter, I saw your name appear on the recent General Officer List. Since that time I have seen the article in Life Magazine concerning your promotion and I am enclosing an article which we published here at Smoky Hill in the last issue of our paper. 

Needless to say, I offer you my sincere congratulations. As the saying goes, "It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." I am sure it is well deserved and I hope your success will continue. 

Very sincerely yours 
^[[ signature]] Murray [[/signature]] ]]
MURRAY A BYWATER 
Colonel, USAF
Deputy Commander 

[[news article]]
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1954 IMPACT PAGE FIFTEEN 

Like Father, Like Son 

[[image - black and white photograph of Gen. Davis Sr., holding photograph of Gen. Davis Jr.]]

White-haired Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Sr., USA (Ret.), the first Negro ever to attain the rank of general in the Army, gazes proudly at a photograph of his son Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who was recently promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general in the Air Force. This makes young Davis the first Negro to attain the rang of general in the AF.
[[/news article]] 

PHOTOCOPIED APRIL 24, 2001; NASM PRESERVATION COPY