Daniel “Chappie” James

General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., USAF, fought in three American wars and became the first African American to attain the rank of four-star general in the United States Armed Forces. He was a talented military leader, an excellent orator and an advocate for equal rights for blacks in the military. James was once one of the most powerful men in the world, and today he is often classed with such great American generals as Patton, MacArthur and Pershing. This biography explores James’s life and assesses his place in American military history. From his childhood through his role and service in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, the book traces his personal and career development, his influences, and his climb through the military ranks. Photographs of James are included as well as detailed bibliographical information at the end of each chapter.

Earnest N. Bracey is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and is a professor of political science and African American history at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.

Earnest N. Bracey

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 231
Bibliographic Info: photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2003
pISBN: 978-0-7864-1445-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5126-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      v
Introduction      1

1 The Bell Toll: Birth and Childhood      15
2 College Days: Tuskegee Institute      27
3 The Soldier as Warrior: Black Military Protest      37
4 World War II      43
5 Winds of War: The Post War Years      51
6 Korea      60
7 Places in Time: Bentwaters, England and Beyond     67
8 Armies of the Night: The Vietnam Conflict     79
9 After the War in Vietnam     93
10 The Warrior as Diplomat: Wheelus Air Force Base, Libya     102
11 One Star: The Beginning of Stardom     110
12 Two Stars: The Patriot     119
13 Three Stars: Up the Military Ladder     126
14 The General: NORAD     136
15 General James’s View on Air Defense     153
16 Retirement of a Warrior     160
17 Death of a Fighter Pilot     172
18 Conclusion     184

Epilogue     197
Bibliography     205
Index     215

• “an excellent perspective”—Catholic Library World
• “thorough documentation”—Colorado Libraries