Master Sergeant Hubert C. Jackson, Jr., Ph.D., a retired US Army veteran with 24 years of distinguished service, is a renowned speaker on African-American Military History. His journey into this field began at VFW Post 10174, where he was introduced to the 555th Parachute Infantry Association (555th PIA), honoring the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, the first all-Black parachute infantry battalion in the US Army. This encounter, coupled with meeting members of the 2nd Ranger Company, the first all-Black Ranger company, sparked a profound realization in him. Despite his qualifications as a paratrooper, Ranger, and Special Forces (Green Beret), Master Sergeant (MSG) Jackson had been unaware of the historical figures who paved the way for African Americans in special operations.
Driven by this epiphany, he embarked on extensive research, uncovering the rich and often untold stories of African-American military units and individuals from the American Revolutionary War to the Korean War. His discoveries encompass various key figures and events, such as Crispus Attucks and the Battle of Bunker Hill, James Lafayette Armistead, the Black 1st Rhode Island Regiment, and the significant role of Blacks in the Continental Navy.
MSG Jackson’s insights extend to:
- The War of 1812’s “Battalion of Freemen of Color,”
- the United States Colored Troops and the Black Louisiana Native Guard of the Civil War,
- and the legendary Buffalo Soldiers and Black Seminole Indian Scouts.
He highlights the accomplishments of:
- The first three Black West Point graduates,
- the narrative of the “First Female Buffalo Soldier,”
- and the role of the 93rd Infantry Division (Colored) in World War I.
His expertise also covers:
- World War I heroes like Eugene Jacques Bullard,
- along with the “Tuskegee Airmen,”
- the 5th Tank Group,
- and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, all of whom served during WWII.
Through his presentations like “African American Military History – The Lesser Known Contributors,” MSG Jackson shares these invaluable stories, offering unique perspectives on Black contributions to military history.
His commitment to educating others, particularly the youth, about these pivotal contributions to American history, is evident in his diverse range of presentations, including “African American Military History: From a Black Female Prospective” and “African American Military History: Black Harbingers of Death from Above,” which deals with African American Combat pilots from the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) to the twentieth century. With plans for more topics, MSG Jackson continues to shed light on these crucial aspects of history, ensuring they are recognized and remembered.