June 15, 1877: Henry O. Flipper Becomes First African American Cadet from USMA

June 15, 1877: Henry O. Flipper becomes the first African American cadet to graduate from the United States Military Academy.

Henry Ossian Flipper was a soldier, former slave, and the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1877, earning a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Following Flipper’s commission, he was transferred to one of the all-black regiments serving in the U.S. Army, which were historically led by white officers.

After losing his commission in the Army, Flipper worked throughout Latin America and as an assistant to the Secretary of the Interior.

In 1994, his descendants applied to the US military for a review of Flipper’s court martial and dismissal.