Last Updated on October 28, 2024
Resident Mark Buehlman reviews Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America’s First Black Generals by Doug Melville. [New York: Simon & Schuster, 2024] on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 7 PM in the Auditorium. This is his review for the November 2024 Sunburst.
The riveting story of Generals Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. (Ollie) and Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (Ben) is recounted in the context of American and world history. This father and son helped integrate the American military and created the Tuskegee Airmen. Ollie enlisted in the Army in 1898 and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1940. Ben graduated from West Point in 1936 and, for a brief time was assigned as Ollie’s aide-de-camp, before Ben was transferred to the Army Air Corps in 1942. They had significant roles in both World Wars and in later years.
When the author, the great- nephew of Ben, first learned about his remarkable uncles, he was well into adulthood. He devoted himself to research online, through historical documents and with available family interviews. Both Generals had a dream to serve their country in the military. At a young age, Ben’s dream was to be a pilot. Ollie guided Ben toward his goal in the face of many social and cultural obstacles.
As military leaders they used the systems designed to hold them back, to make America more inclusive. The inspiration, courage and perseverance required to realize their dreams is documented in meaningful detail in this book.
Author Doug Melville specializes in issues of international equity and inclusion. This is his first book.
Resident Mark Buehlman is an environmental engineer, teacher and inventor, who has served in the U.S. Army. He has presented ELLIC programs and previous book reviews.