U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY

The United States Military Academy (also known as West Point ) was the first United States military post built after the Declaration of Independence. In its inception, it was under the command of Benedict Arnold. Established in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States.

Born in Thomasville, Georgia, 1856, Henry Flipper, the son of slaves, was  the first African American to graduate from West Point. On 15th June, 1877, Flipper was commissioned as second lieutenant of the 10th Cavalry, one of the four all-black Buffalo Soldier regiments in the army, and became the first black officer to command regular troops in the U.S. Army. Previously, even all-black regiments were led by white officers.

The third African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy, Colonel Charles Young was born in Mays Lick, Kentucky in 1864. Upon his graduation from West Point in 1889, Colonel Young was assigned to the Tenth Calvary where he served in many military campaigns including the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Revolution and World War One. At the beginning of World War One, Colonel Young became the highest ranking African-American officer in the U.S.

U.S. Military Academy
600 Thayer Rd
West Point, NY 10996
(845) 938-4011
Official Website
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