Sgt. William Carney. Library of Congress.
As his regiment gained the crest of the parapet at the Confederate-held Fort Wagner in South Carolina, Sgt. Carney took up the American Flag after earlier color bearers fell. He carried the flag to the fort, rallying and inspiring the men around him.
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Sgt. John Denny. Library of Congress.
Under the blistering desert sun with bullets and arrows raining down from the canyon walls, Sgt. John Denny spotted a fellow Soldier lying wounded near his position. Denny abandoned his cover, sprinted to the wounded Soldier, and brought him back to friendly lines.
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Charity Adams Earley. U.S. Army
Soldier and community activist, Lt. Col. Earley served as the highest-ranking Black woman officer during World War II. Earley fought against segregation in the Army and helped open the doors of opportunity for other African American women in the military.
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2nd Lt. Henry O. Flipper. U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Military Affairs.
Born into slavery, Henry O. Flipper fought his way through prejudice and isolation to become the first African American graduate of West Point and first commissioned Black officer in the U.S. Army.
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1st Lt. John R. Fox. Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
On December 26, 1944, enemy troops closed in on 1st Lt. Fox, situated on the second floor of a house in the Italian village of Sommocolonia. Surrounded and with little hope of rescue, Fox radioed for an artillery bombardment of his position.
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Sgt. Henry Johnson. U.S. Army.
Sgt. Johnson’s actions on the night of May 15, 1918 earned him the nickname “Black Death.” Defending Allied lines, he saved a fellow Soldier from capture and prevented a German raid from reaching his French allies.
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Drummer Jordan B. Noble. Edward Clifton Wharton Louisiana State Museum.
Born enslaved, Noble served as the drummer of the 7th Infantry Regiment during the War of 1812. Also serving in Mexican-American War and Civil War, Noble contributed to the battlefield success of the units with which he served.
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Maj. Della Rainey. U.S. Army Women’s Foundation.
Major Della Raney checked off multiple firsts during her time with the U.S. Army: first African American accepted to the Army Nurse Corps; first African American commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps; and first African-American nurse with the Army Air Corps promoted to captain.
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This Kurz and Allison print from 1890 depicts the moment of Col. Shaw’s death during the assault on Fort Wagner.
On July 18, 1863, a large force of Soldiers advanced in formation towards enemy fortifications outside of Charleston, South Carolina. As the sun set, the Confederate defenders opened fire on the 5,000 strong assault force.
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