Henry O. Flipper Marker

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El Paso in El Paso County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Henry O. Flipper

By Bill Kirchner, October 21, 2012

1. Henry O. Flipper Marker

Inscription. Henry Ossian Flipper (1856-1940) was the first African-American graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1877. Born into slavery in Thomasville, Georgia, he came from a family of achievers; his brothers were an African Methodist Episcopal Bishop, a college professor and a farmer.

Commissioned as Lieutenant in the 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers, Flipper was stationed at bases in western states and territories. At Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he designed a drainage system, now a National Historic Landmark known as "Flipper's Ditch," that removed standing water, thus minimizing malaria outbreaks.

Despite his many accomplishments, Flipper is most remembered as a victim of racism. In 1882, at Fort Davis, Texas, he was court-martialled on questionable charges. He was eventually acquitted of all charges save one: conduct unbecoming an officer.

Dismissed from the army, Flipper went on to become a civil mining engineer, surveyor, translator, newspaper editor, historian and folklorist in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. For 10 years, he lived in El Paso, working for prominent mining companies. He was appointed Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior during the Harding administration. Flipper tried, but was unable, to clear his name before his death

By Bill Kirchner, October 21, 2012

2. Henry O. Flipper Marker

in 1940.

In 1976, the U.S. Army granted Lt. Flipper an honorable discharge, and he received a full presidential pardon of all charges in 1999.

Erected 2002 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12796.)

Location. 31° 46.845′ N, 106° 27.34′ W. Marker is in El Paso, Texas, in El Paso County. Marker is at the intersection of East Wyoming Avenue and North Cebada Street, on the right when traveling west on East Wyoming Avenue. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3231 East Wyoming Avenue, El Paso TX 79903, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon (a few steps from this marker); Fort Bliss Buffalo Soldiers Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Concordia Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Guardian Angel Church (approx. half a mile away); John Wesley Hardin (approx. half a mile away); The Mormon Plot in Concordia Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Defining A Border (approx. 0.8 miles away); Stephen Tyng Mather (approx. 0.9 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in El Paso.

By Bill Kirchner, October 21, 2012

3. Henry O. Flipper Marker

Henry O. Flipper Photo, Click for full size

By Bill Kirchner, October 24, 2012

4. Henry O. Flipper

Bust is located in the visitor center at Fort Davis National Historic Site.

Credits. This page originally submitted on October 30, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 81 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 30, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.