However, the date of retrieval is often important. In April 1943 the unit was transferred to North Africa, and in June it flew its first combat mission. His high standing in his class entitled Davis to choose which branch of service he would enter. Retired from active service as general of the Army, 1948; recalled as general of the Army, December 1950; resigned, 1952, to run for President; reappointed general of the Army, March 1961. In 1948 the United States Military became one of the first American institutions to adopt a policy of complete integrationin part because of the stellar performance of Davis and his men. Singer, dancer, actor Subsequently he was assigned to the new Air War College. Sources of commission are listed in parentheses after the year of commission and include: the. Born Benjamin Oliver Davis in 1877 in Washington, DC; died of complications of leukemia, November 26, 1970; son of Louis (a messenger in government offices) and Henrietta (a nurse; maiden name, Stewart) Davis; married Elnora Dickerson, 1902 (died, 1916); married Sadie Overton, 1919 (died, 1966); children: Olive; Benjamin Oliver, Jr.; Elnora. Fletcher, Marvin "Davis, Benjamin O., Jr. The 332nd saw action throughout Europe; in two days during January of 1944, they shot down 12 German fighters over the Anzio beachhead in Italy. The attackers DAVIS, ANGELA YVONNE Religion: Protestant. Commanding General, Western Defense Command, 19451946. Determined to rise higher, he set his sights on an officers commission. Soldiers' Angels hosts monthly food distributions providing food assistance to low-income, at-risk, and homeless veterans in six cities across the country. Officials curtly informed Davis that blacks, no matter what their standing at West Point, were not eligible to become part of the flying elite. Due at least in part to the wartime accomplishments of Davis and his men, in 1948 the U.S. Armed Forces became one of the first institutions in America to adopt an official policy of full integration, thus becoming the first workplace in which black Americans could hope for equal opportunity. Complaints from soldiers were funneled back to Washington, alerting Daviss superiors to such problems as the assignment of inferior officers to black units, segregation of blood plasma from black and white donors, and humiliating discrimination in officers clubs, stores, and barber shops on army bases. 23 Feb. 2023