Left Out of History
During World War I the 369th Infantry Regiment spent 191 days at the front, more than any other American unit. They also suffered the most casualties of any American regiment, yet were the first unit of the Allied forces to cross the Rhine into Germany. After witnessing first-hand their bravery in front-line trenches, the French nicknamed them "Men of Bronze."
Consisting primarily of African American soldiers, the 761st Tank Battalion was known as the Black Panthers (after their unit insignia). During the war, the unit participated in a number of key battles, including the "Battle of the Bulge." The 761st received a Presidential Unit Citation, and a large number of soldiers were decorated for their actions, receiving: 1 Medal of Honor, 11 Silver Stars and roughly 300 Purple Hearts.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military pilots in the United States Armed Forces. They had an exceptional combat record during World War II while escorting American bombers over Germany, receiving three Distinguished Unit Citations.
The first and only all-Black RANGER unit (including officers) in the US Army, was activated on October 25, 1950 at Fort Benning, GA and arrived in Korea on December 30, 1950. They participated in its "Bath of Fire" (combat) on January 7, 1951 and participated in "Operation Tomahawk, one of two combat airborne (parachute) drops during the war on March 23, 1951.
The 1st Rhode Island Regiment originally consisted of 95 ex-slaves and 30 freemen. The Regiment fought in the "Battle of Rhode Island" August 1778 during the Revolutionary War and repulsed 3 assaults by Hessian mercenaries.
Welcome! I'm Dr. Hubert C. Jackson, Jr., Master Sergeant, U.S. Army retired, and historian passionate about African-American Military History. After serving 24 years in the US Army, 20 of the 24 being invested in Special Operations as a paratrooper, Ranger, and Green Beret, I discovered the inspiring stories of groundbreaking all-Black military units such as the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Ranger Company that don’t appear in our history books.
Growing up in the 50s and 60s segregated South, I admired mainstream heroes such as Roy Rogers and John Wayne but later found real-life Black heroes like cowboy Nat Love and deputy U.S. marshal Bass Reeves. It was after meeting my Black heroes of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Ranger Company – the men who made it possible for me to live the adventures that I did – that I was inspired to create "African American Military History: The Lesser-Known Contributors." This presentation reveals the crucial roles of African Americans from the Revolutionary to Korean Wars.
My goal is to highlight the vital, but often overlooked, contributions of African Americans who have served America since its beginning and celebrate these diverse heroes who have shaped our nation's history. Join me in honoring their legacy as I uncover these hidden chapters of military history so that we may increase understanding and appreciation of the contributions to our country of our minority servicemen and women.
After 4 years of high school, 4 years of college, 26 years in the US Air Force and about 30 years of retired life, I must admit that I was mostly ignorant regarding this subject. My wife and I attended the presentation by Dr. Jackson sponsored by The Person County Museum of History, Roxboro , NC in March 2023. It was very informative and filled in a lot of gaps in my education. Dr. Jackson presented the information in a very professional manner, making sure to keep it entertaining and easily understandable. It’s unfortunate that this very well-researched information isn’t presented in every American History Course in every school in the country. I highly recommend this presentation to everyone interested in the true history of our United States of America.
Dr. Jackson was excited as well as knowledgeable about AfAm military history. He was engaging and enthusiastically welcomed listeners to participate even more in his presentation. No doubt his passion for this particular history has inspired others to further research the men and women who brought these significant events to life. One could also conclude that the contributions made by AfAm military personnel helps to complete the picture for all American military history in total. Thank you, Dr. Jackson, for your service and for your example of life-long learning.
On behalf of Academy Prep Center of Tampa, I want to thank you for taking the time to come and speak to our students at our school’s Cultural Celebration. Your experience as a black man during the 60s and beyond was amazing and educational. Your background and research was very profound and shows that you have a passion for what you are doing. The students were very attentive as they learned things they never heard of in their history books. I feel they left with pride knowing that blacks played a very important part in American military history. They were saying that it was very interesting learning things they didn’t know about. They were a little puzzled as to why they wouldn’t put this in the history books. Some were thinking I really could be anything I set my mind to. Again we thank you.
I had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Hubert C Jackson to the campus of Bethune-Cookman University to address the Bethune-Cookman Black Male College Explorers Program about the history of our United States Military. Dr. Jackson was inspiring, informative, and innovative in his approach to educating the young men with some detailed information. From his attire to his presentation style, he grabbed their attention and left them yearning for more. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Hubert C Jackson as a presenter and expert for his well-informed program.
The positive mental impression that MSgt Jackson left on our youth was palpable. The engaging way he conveyed his experiences resonated deeply with our participants, sparking genuine interest and enthusiasm. … We extend our deepest gratitude to MSgt Jackson and express our hope that he would consider returning to speak with our youth again in the future. His unique perspective and impactful presentation style have left an indelible mark on our program, and we believe that his continued involvement would benefit our participants.
I am currently a board member of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Speakers Association. It was my pleasure recently to present as our video guest, Master Sergeant Dr. Hubert C. Jackson, Jr. Before meeting him, I considered myself somewhat of a buff with regards to Black History. After our visit, I felt that I was a dwarf in the presence of a giant. Dr. Jackson’s credentials and background speak volumes in and of themselves. Additionally though, his research of the topic displays acute attention to detail. That gives even more bang for the buck. There is much that has not been written on the subject of Black History in general, much less Blacks in Military History. Likely much will never be known, but having someone like you Dr Jackson available at this time is a very timely treasure. Thank you very much Dr. Jackson for sharing with NSACF. If we might be of any further service, “we’re on deck!”