Frederick C. Branch

Infobox Military Person
name=Frederick Clinton Branch
born= birth date|1922|5|31
died= death date and age|2005|4|10|1922|5|31
placeofbirth=Hamlet, North Carolina
placeofdeath=Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania


caption=Frederick C. Branch being pinned with his second lieutenant bars by his wife, Camilla "Peggy" Branch.
nickname=Fred
allegiance= United States of America
serviceyears=1943-1955
rank= Captain
branch=United States Marine Corps
commands=
unit=
battles=World War II
awards=
laterwork=Science teacher

Frederick Clinton Branch (May 31 1922 – April 10 2005) was the first African-American officer of the United States Marine Corps.

Marine Corps career

In June 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the Marine Corps to African Americans through an executive order (8802) that prohibited racial discrimination by any government agency.Danelo, 2005.] Previously, African Americans had been barred from Marine Corps service. While Branch was attending Temple University, he received a draft notice from the Army. When he reported for induction to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in May 1943, he was chosen to become a Marine.Danelo, 2005.] He underwent training in Montford Point, North Carolina along with other African-American Marines (who became known as "Montford Point Marines").

Branch applied for Officer Candidate School, but was initially denied. While serving with a supply unit in the Pacific, his conduct earned him the recommendation of his commanding officer. He received his officer's training in the Navy V-12 program at Purdue University"The Washington Post", April 12, 2005.] and was commissioned as second lieutenant on November 10 1945, becoming the first African-American officer in Marine Corps history.

Following World War II, Branch left active duty for the Reserves. He was re-activated during the Korean War, serving at Camp Pendleton, California in command of an antiaircraft training platoon. He was discharged from active duty in 1952, returning to the Reserves, reaching the rank of captain before leaving the Marine Corps in 1955.

Honors

In 1997, Branch was honored for his pioneering role in integration of the Corps — a training building in the Marine Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia is named in his honor."The Washington Post", April 12, 2005.] Dole press release, 2005]

In 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his commissioning, a United States Senate resolution was passed honoring Branch."The Washington Post", April 12, 2005.] On April 25, 2005, after his death, a U.S. Senate resolution 116 was sponsored by North Carolina's senators Dole and Burr "to commemorate the life, achievements, and contributions of Frederick C. Branch".Dole press release, 2005.]

ee also

*Military history of African Americans
*List of African-American firsts
*Golden Thirteen, first African-American commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy

Notes

References

*cite press release
url=http://dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=420&Month=4&Year=2005
accessdate=2006-12-29
date=April 25 2005
title=Senators Dole, Burr Sponsor Resolution Honoring Frederick C. Branch: North Carolina native the first African American to be commissioned as a U.S. Marine officer
publisher=Office of Senator Elizabeth Dole

*cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10762584 |accessdate=2006-12-29
title=Frederick C. Branch (1922-2005)
publisher=Find A Grave

*cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48243-2005Apr12.html |accessdate=2006-12-29
date=April 12 2005
title=Obituary: Frederick C. Branch; Was 1st Black Officer In U.S. Marine Corps
author=Matt Schudel
page=B06
work=The Washington Post

*cite web|url=http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,NI_0605_Branch,00.html
accessdate=2006-12-29
title="Branching Out"
author=David Danelo
work=Proceedings
date=June 2005
publisher=The Naval Institute

Further reading

*cite book
url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/sec12.htm
accessdate=2006-12-29
title=THE RIGHT TO FIGHT: African-American Marines in World War II
work=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series
author=Bernard C. Nalty
year=1995
publisher=United States Marine Corps