Following the honored service of Blacks in World War II and realizing that a segregated force was wasteful and inefficient, then President I-Harry S. Truman signed an executive order in 1948 which signaled the abandonment of the official policy of segregation in the armed forces. Black military pilots, such as Daniel "Chappie" James and Frank E. Petersen, went on to successful careers during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and most recently during the Gulf' War of 1991.

General Daniel "Chappie Jones" James Jr. was America's first Black four star general A combat veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars James flew many wartime missions and held a variety of leadership positions. He passed in 1978. He is pictured here in front of' his F-4C Phantom in Thailand during the Vietnam War. This caption is from a photograph taken in the early 1940s of Black aviators being trained for World War II: Roosevelt Field, L.I. -What is said to be the first Negro squadron appeared here in uniform (early 1940s) to go through their training paces.

As soon as all obtain their pilot's licenses, they will go through an advanced flying course to prepare for possible duty in Abyssinia against the Italians. One of the group, Ms. Lola Jackson, far left, eventually expects to form a women's flying corps to serve as nurses. Editor's note: Some 4,000 Black women would serve in the Army in World War II as nurses.

After he pinned on his fourth star, Air Force Gen. Daniel James Jr. summed up his thoughts on his years of military service: "I've fought in three wars, and three more wouldn't be too many to defend my country. I love America, and as she has weaknesses or ills, I'll hold her hand." The first African-American service member to reach the rank of full general, "Chappie" James at the time of his promotion in 1975 was also named commander of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), with responsibility for all aspects of air defense for the United States and Canada.

James was born in Pensacola, Fla., on Feb. 11, 1920. He attended Tuskegee Institute and was one of the famed "Tuskegee Airmen." The unit was part of the government-sponsored Civilian Pilot Training Program, an all-black unit whose members were kept separated from their white counterparts. For more information on the Tuskegee Airmen, see this special feature.