| Alfred Masters | |
|---|---|
| File:File:Technical Sgt. Alfred Masters - 1st African-American in the United States Marine Corp - 1942.jpg | |
| Born | February 5, 1916 |
| Died | June 16, 1975 (aged 59) |
| Place of birth | Palestine, Texas |
| Place of death | Anthony, New Mexico |
| Rank | Technical Sergeant |
| Unit | United States Marine Corps |
| Spouse(s) | Isabell Masters (divorced), Mary Hendricks |
Alfred Masters (February 5, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an African-American member of the United States Marine Corps. Masters became the very first African American in the United States Marines at his swearing-in on June 1, 1942, at 12:01am in Oklahoma City and then his first training camp was Montford Point in North Carolina.[1][2][3] Masters rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Masters married Isabell Masters. They had three daughters, Shirley Jean, Alfreda Dean and Cora Lavonne Masters,but the marriage ended in divorce in the 1940s.[4] Isabell Masters went on to become an educator and five-time U.S. presidential candidate.[4] In 1994, their daughter Cora became the fourth wife of politician Marion Barry.[4]
Alfred Masters married Mary Hendricks in 1949 and they had five children, 3 girls—Mary Ann Masters, Kathryn Louise Masters and Carolyn Donata Masters Faulkner—and 2 boys—Otto Joe Masters and Alfred Dan Masters.
Alfred Masters died in Anthony, New Mexico on June 16, 1975. He is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas[5]
References[]
- ↑ Shaw, Jr., Henry I.; Donnelly, Ralph W. (1995). "Blacks in the Marine Corps". Air University. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/black.txt. Retrieved December 1, 2011. p. 2
- ↑ Coral Anika Theill. "WORLD WAR II Montford Point Marines: Honoring And Preserving Their Legacy". Leatherneck Magazine. http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/article/world-war-ii-montford-point-marines-honoring-and-preserving-their-legacy. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
- ↑ Williams, Janette (2011-09-20). "Political activist Isabell Masters, whose presidential ambitions started in Pasadena, dies at 98". Pasadena Star-News. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_18940389. Retrieved 2011-10-08.[dead link]
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Isabell Masters obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 2011-09-25. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/8788002/Isabell-Masters.html. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ↑ http://www.findagrave.com
External links[]
Alfred Masters at Find a Grave
The original article can be found at Alfred Masters and the edit history here.