The Black Army Officer

The United States Army has served as protector of American Freedom since the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Black soldiers (USCT) have served in the army since the beginning of the Civil War. They were drafted and volunteered to serve in all black units that were commanded by white Officers.



The Black Army Oficer, the Untold Story, from 1947 fo 1999. The desegregation Process began with the establishment of Seventeen Army ROTC Units at Historical 1890 Morrill Act Black colleges located in the Southern States. The training began with the fieshman students as early as 1943. Four years later, these graduates were Commissioned second Lieutenants in the Infantry.



In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 that established policies to integrate the Armed Forces of the United States of America.



The book documents this historic event and its impact on young black male college students who attended Prairie View A&M University and were commissioned Second Lieutenants from 1947-to-1 999.



Information was gathered from the Prairie View A & M University Library Archives, Military Science Department records, 1890 College Representatives from Prairie View A&MU and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Eighteen autobiographies were collected and there were numerous interviews with class members.



From 1947-1 999, 1,398 commissioned Second Lieutenants were catalogue. Six Generals were promoted from this group.



Pictures of the first PVAM U President, first PMST and other historical pictures taken by the author are used to complement this work.



Clyde McQueen is a World War II Veteran and 1950 graduate of Prairie View A&M College. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the infantry fifty seven years ago and Veteran of the Korean War. He chose Prairie View A&M University for this study because of the access to data that told the story of the black army officer.