Each generation has heroes — people who rise above the humdrum and mediocre to inspire those around them and who follow them, to aspire to better themselves and their nations.
Henry O. Flipper — the first African-American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy — was one of the heroes who inspired Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, the secretary told students at Defense Department Education Activity high schools at Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The first African American leader of the department, who was also a West Point graduate, spoke virtually about his motivations and inspirations for Black History Month.
Flipper was from Austin's hometown of Thomasville, Georgia. He was born enslaved and freed as a result of the Civil War. After his 1877 graduation from West Point, Flipper was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 10th Cavalry Regiment — an all-Black unit in the western U.S. that American Indians called Buffalo Soldiers.
"As a young man growing up in Georgia, I never would have, would have imagined that I'd be walking the halls of the Pentagon, let alone doing that with the president and the vice president of the United States of America," Austin told the students.
"It is my distinct honor to serve as a secretary of defense," he said. "In that capacity, my number one job is to defend our country and secure our nation's interest[s] around the globe. I do this by leading and serving alongside a diverse group of nearly 3 million hard working professionals — soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardians."
The secretary told the students that DOD is stronger the more diverse it is. He wants DOD to mirror the make-up of the larger American people, which it does with 40 percent of the force representing people of color.
"I think … the military has led the way … in terms of providing opportunity, not only to join, but providing opportunity for promotion," he said. "One of the things that I think we're going to have to work on going forward is making sure that the senior ranks of the military also reflect what the military looks like."
Austin wants senior leadership in the United States military to mirror America's diversity. "That's one of the things I'm going to work on while I'm in this job," he said.
"Black history is American history," Austin said. Heroes of every hue inspire Americans of every hue.
The heroes are willing to step up and make the country better. They are willing to secure the freedoms and rights and privileges for all Americans. "Your generation won't be any different," Austin said.