Mims in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

James, General Daniel “Chappie”, Jr. (1920–1978)

— Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park —

James, General Daniel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, July 21, 2021

1. James, General Daniel Marker

Inscription.

James, General Daniel “Chappie”, Jr. (1920–1978). . Born February 11, 1920 at Pensacola, Florida, he learned to fly while attending Tuskegee Institute and after graduation in 1942, continued civilian flight training until he received appointment as a Cadet in the Army Air Corps in January 1943. He was commissioned in July 1943 and throughout the remainder of World War II he trained pilots for the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron and worked in other assignments. He was subsequently stationed in Ohio and the Philippines.

During the Korean War he flew 101 missions in fighters. From 1953 to 1956 he was at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, receiving promotion to Major in that period. On graduating from the Air-Command Staff School in 1957, he was assigned to staff duty in Washington.

From 1960 to 1964, he was stationed in England and from 1964 to 1966 in Arizona and in 1966-67 in Vietnam where he flew 78 combat missions. By then a Colonel, he was Vice Commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Elgin Air Force Base, Florida in 1967-69, and then promoted to Brigadier General, was named base commander of Wheelus Air Force Base in Libya.

In March 1970 he became Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and advanced to Major General. In September 1974, with the rank of Lieutenant General, he became Vice Commander of the Military Airlift Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

In September 1975 he became the first black officer in the history of the United States military to attain 4-star full General rank. At that time he was named Commander of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), with responsibility for all aspects of the air defense of the United States and Canada. He was also much-sought after as a public speaker and devoted considerable time to addressing youth groups, particularly minority students.

Born February 11, 1920 at Pensacola, Florida, he learned to fly while attending Tuskegee Institute and after graduation in 1942, continued civilian flight training until he received appointment as a Cadet in the Army Air Corps in January 1943. He was commissioned in July 1943 and throughout the remainder of World War II he trained pilots for the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron and worked in other assignments. He was subsequently stationed in Ohio and the Philippines.

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Base, Illinois.

He died shortly after his retirement from the Air Force of a heart attack in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His private memorial in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery says, in part:
This is my country and I believe in her, I’ll protect her against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Erected by Harry t. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Korean • War, Vietnam • War, World II.

Location. 28° 39.285′ N, 80° 50.786′ W. Marker is in Mims, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker can be reached from Freedom Avenue, 0.3 miles south of Parker Street, on the right when traveling south. Located within the Harry

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, July 21, 2021

2. James, General Daniel Marker

T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park and Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2180 Freedom Avenue, Mims FL 32754, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Greensboro Sit-Ins (a few steps from this marker); Mitchelville, South Carolina (a few steps from this marker); Ocoee Race Riots - 1920 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tallahassee Bus Boycott (within shouting distance of this marker); Thurgood Marshall (within shouting distance of this marker); Medgar Evers (within shouting distance of this marker); 99th Fighter Squadron (within shouting distance of this marker); Juneteenth (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mims.

Also see . . .
1. Gen Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. (Submitted on July 25, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park. (Submitted on July 25, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 25, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.