BLACK IN TIME: A Moment In OUR History - Henry O. Flipper

Henry O. Flipper

Henry Ossian Flipper, The First Black American Cadet To Graduate From West Point, Was Born Into Slavery On March 21, 1856, In Thomasville, Georgia.

In 1873, Flipper Was Appointed To The West Point United States Military Academy, In New York City. During His Four Years There, He Endured Segregation, Insults And Harassment.

Determined To Realize A Childhood Dream, He Remained At West Point And Became It’s First Black Graduate And The First Black American Commissioned Officer In The Regular U.S. Army.

Flipper Achieved The Rank Of Lieutenant And Served Much Of His Military Time In The Southwest, Including Texas And Oklahoma. He Was A Signal Officer And Quartermaster, Installed Telegraph Lines, Fought Apaches, Supervised The Building Of Roads And Directed The Construction Of A Drainage System Designed To Prevent The Spread Of Malaria. "Flipper’s Ditch," As It Is Called, Is Commemorated By A Bronze Marker At Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

In 1881, While Serving At Fort Davis, Texas, Flipper’s Commanding Officer Accused Him Of Embezzeling $3,791.77 From Commissary Funds.

A Court Martial Found Him Not Guilty Of Embezzlement, But Convicted Him Of Conduct Unbecoming An Officer. Consequently, He Was Dishonorably Discharged From The Army.

Flipper Spent The Next Several Years Attempting To Clear His Name, His Efforts Were Unsuccessful. He Died In 1940 Without Any Vindication.

It Was Not Until 1976, That The Army Granted Him An Honorable Discharge. Former President, Bill Clinton Issued Henry O. Flipper A Full Pardon In 1999.

"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." --Hubert Gaddy, Jr.

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