Alfred Masters

Alfred Masters
Born (1916-02-05)February 5, 1916
Palestine, Texas
Died June 16, 1975(1975-06-16) (aged 59)
Anthony, New Mexico
Rank Technical Sergeant
Unit United States Marine Corps
Spouse(s) Isabell Masters (divorced), Mary Hendricks

Alfred Masters (February 5, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an African-American member of the United States Marine Corps. Masters became the very first African American in the United States Marines at his swearing-in on June 1, 1942, at 12:01am in Oklahoma City and then his first training camp was Montford Point in North Carolina.[1][2][3] Masters rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Masters married Isabell Masters. They had three daughters, Shirley Jean, Alfreda Dean and Cora Lavonne Masters,but the marriage ended in divorce in the 1940s.[4]

Isabell Masters went on to become an educator and five-time U.S. presidential candidate.[4] In 1994, their daughter Cora became the fourth wife of politician Marion Barry.[4]

Alfred Masters married Mary Hendricks in 1949 and they had five children, 3 girls--Mary Ann Masters, Kathryn Louise Masters and Carolyn Donata Masters Faulkner--and 2 boys--Otto Joe Masters and Alfred Dan Masters.

Alfred Masters died in Anthony, New Mexico on June 16, 1975. He is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.

References

  1. Shaw, Jr., Henry I.; Donnelly, Ralph W. (1995). "Blacks in the Marine Corps". Air University. Retrieved December 1, 2011. p. 2
  2. Coral Anika Theill. "WORLD WAR II Montford Point Marines: Honoring And Preserving Their Legacy". Leatherneck Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  3. Williams, Janette (2011-09-20). "Political activist Isabell Masters, whose presidential ambitions started in Pasadena, dies at 98". Pasadena Star-News. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  4. 1 2 3 "Isabell Masters obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-25.

External links

Alfred Masters at Find a Grave


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