FRANK E. PETERSEN, JR.

Petersen (1932- ) was born in Topeka, Kansas, and became the first African-American to attain the rank of general in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received his master's degrees from George Washington University and is also a graduate of the National War College. At the age of 20, Petersen was the first African-American to be named a naval aviator in the Marine Corps and was also the first African-American to command a fighter squadron, a fighter air group, an air wing, and a major airbase. After 38 years in the Marines, he retired in 1988 as commanding general of the Marine Development Education Command in Quantico, Va. At his retirement, Lt. Gen. Petersen was the senior active-duty aviator in the armed forces, having served combat tours in Korea in 1953 and Vietnam in 1968, flying more than 300 combat missions in his military career.

SALEM POOR

Poor (1758?-?) was born free in Massachusetts and enlisted in that colony's militia to join the Patriot forces in Boston. He participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill. George Washington initially forbade the service of blacks until he learned the Tory governor of Virginia emancipated all blacks willing to serve in the British forces. At the end of 1775 Washington reversed his decision, and in the first month of 1776 the Continental Congress approved the reenlistment of free blacks. Poor retreated with the army to Valley Forge and saw action at the Battle of White Plains. Nothing is known about the remainder of his life, but he has been honored on a United States commemorative postage stamp in 1975 as an example of the heroic contribution of African Americans to the founding of this country.

COLIN POWELL

Powell (1937- ) was born in Harlem, New York, the son of Jamaican immigrants. After graduating City College of New York in 1958 with a B.S. in geology and the honor of Distinguished Military Graduate, he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army. Powell served in the infantry in Vietnam, and after more service in the army was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense during the Carter administration. Promoted to Brigadier General in 1979, Major General in 1983, and Lt. General in 1986, he served the Reagan administration in the Department of Defense, then the Bush administration as National Security Advisor (1987-1989). Powell was promoted to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989, becoming a full general, and leading U.S. military operations during the Gulf War in 1990-1991. Upon his retirement from the military in 1993, President Clinton presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction. When George W. Bush took office in 2001, he named Powell the first ever African American Secretary of State.

PAUL REASON

Reason was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and he graduated in 1965 from the U. S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1965. He served aboard the nuclear powered guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Truxtun and participated in the ship's first deployment to Southeast Asia in 1968. Joining the nuclear powered aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise in 1971, he deployed twice to the Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean areas. In late 1976, he was assigned as Naval Aide to the President of the United States. He served as aide to President Jimmy Carter until mid-1979, after which he commanded several warships. From 1986 through 1988, he was Commander, Naval Base Seattle, where he was responsible for all naval activities in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. He led other battle groups until reporting as Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, following selection to three-star rank. Upon promotion to four-star rank, he assumed duties as Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in December 1996. This made him the first African American to reach such rank and position. Among his awards is the Distinguished Service Medal.