African American Military Heroes (Black Stars) [Hardcover]

Jim Haskins (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up | Series: Black Stars

Throughout American history, succeeding in the military has demanded unflagging courage, strength of character, and a patriotic spirit. For an African American man or woman, serving in the military has also meant battling oppression and struggling against deep-seated prejudice. Those who persevered were not only warriors, nurses, or leaders--they were heroes and heroines.

In this action-packed collection, you will meet thirty brave and determined African American military heroes, from the eighteenth century up to the present. You'll discover little-known facts about their families and careers, as well as the remarkable odds each of them overcame.

Ranging from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, these exciting stories show you how:
* Private Peter Salem, born into slavery, led the charge against the British redcoats at the Battle of Bunker Hill and turned the tide in America's fight for independence.
* Harriet Tubman, famous for her daring in the Underground Railroad, worked as a spy and nurse for the Union army during the Civil War.
* Private Henry Johnson, a member of the first black combat battalion in World War I, single-handedly withstood a German ambush and received the Croix de Guerre, France's highest honor for bravery in action.
* Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson, chief of the Army Nursing Corps, blazed a trail in the struggle for racial integration in the armed forces during World War II, becoming the military's highest-ranking African American woman.
* General Colin L. Powell, recipient of the Purple Heart in Vietnam, steadily rose through army ranks to become the first African American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overseeing the U.S. invasion of Panama and Operation Desert Storm.


This extraordinary collection highlights these and dozens of other absorbing stories of dedicated defenders of America.

BLACK STARS

Meet the courageous black stars who defended our liberty with uncommon valor--from the early years to modern times:
* Vernon J. Baker
* Guion S. Bluford Jr.
* Sherian Cadoria
* William H. Carney
* Austin Dabney
* Benjamin O. Davis Sr.
* Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
* Martin Robison Delany
* Charity Adams Earley
* Christian A. Fleetwood
* Henry O. Flipper
* Robert O. Goodman Jr.
* William Goyens
* Samuel L. Gravely Jr.
* Lemuel Haynes
* Michael A. Healy
* Daniel "Chappie" James Jr.
* Hazel W. Johnson
* Henry Johnson
* Dorie Miller
* Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback
* Colin L. Powell
* Peter Salem
* Deborah Sampson
* Robert Smalls
* Harriet Tubman
* John Bathan Vashon
* Peter Vogelsang
* George Washington Williams
* Charles A. Young

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Many young readers will probably know who General Colin Powell is, but have they heard of Brigadier General Hazel Johnson, the United States Army's first African American woman general? Or Guion S. Bluford Jr., the first African American in space? African Americans have been a valuable part of the United States military since before there even was a United States, when Peter Salem fought at the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. Jim Haskins's lively stories, which include definitions of military vocabulary words, bring 30 American heroes to life, and also tell how, for years, African Americans were only able to defend their country in segregated troops. There are some surprises, particularly in the stories about women. Many grownups might not know about Deborah Sampson, who fought disguised as a man during the Revolutionary War, or that Harriet Tubman, the leader of the Underground Railroad, was also a spy for the Union Army in the Civil War.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-This handsome volume highlights the lives and contributions of 30 individuals who served in the military from the Revolutionary War to the present day. Well-known figures such as Private Peter Salem, Scout Harriet Tubman, Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper, and General Colin Powell are here as well as others who deserve recognition. Readers will learn about Colonel Charles A. Young, a West Point graduate in the 1880s who served as a military attache assigned to Haiti and Santo Domingo and later Liberia; and Brigadier General Sherian Cadoria, a protocol officer in Vietnam who rose through the ranks to achieve a number of firsts for women in the army. Haskins points out that all of these patriots experienced segregation or discrimination and yet continued to serve with determination and pride. These biographical sketches show a pattern of accomplishment that has led to more equality in the armed services. Black-and-white reproductions and photographs appear throughout. The book works well as an introduction to the topic and to the various people represented.
Janet Woodward, Garfield High School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 27, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471145777
• ISBN-13: 978-0471145776
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read!, May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: African American Military Heroes (Black Stars) (Hardcover)

Jim Haskins has done a superb job in this book. I would recommend this book for all youth. It is a must read!