Includes bibliographical references (pages 230-231) and index.

A to Z entries -- Ranks in the U.S. military -- U.S. military decorations in order of precedence -- Entries by branch of service -- Entries by year of birth. "African Americans in the Military profiles many of those who have served in the U.S. armed forces. Some African Americans covered include: Crispus Attucks: First Patriot to die in the American struggle for independence; Mary Elizabeth Bowser: Former slave who spied in the home of Jefferson Davis during the Civil War; Vincent K. Brooks: Chief spokesperson for the U.S. military during the 2003 Iraq War; Eugene Jacques Bullard: The only black pilot to serve in World War I; Mary Ann Shadd Cary: Journalist, teacher, lawyer, and Civil War recruiting officer; Henry Ossian Flipper: First African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy; William Goyens: Free African American who negotiated with the Indians in the Texas War for Independence; Doris Miller: Ship's cook, third class, and hero of Pearl Harbor; Colin Luther Powell: Army general, first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and first African-American secretary of state; Suzy Baker King Taylor: Civil War nurse; Augustus Walley: Buffalo Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient; and many others. Offering a wealth of useful information, this book profiles more than 125 military leaders. Each enlightenment biographical entry concentrates on the events in that person's life related to his or her accomplishments in the military and includes a list of further reading on that person. An introduction, bibliography, subject indexes, general index, and 50 photographs round out the resource."--Jacket.