Aurelious Pescia Alberga; Army’s First Black Officer

Aurelious Pescia Alberga, 103, who his wife said was the first black man to serve as an officer in the U.S. Army. Alberga, born in San Francisco, served in World War I. His wife, Toni, said he graduated from officer candidate school in 1919, becoming the Army’s first black officer. Later in his military career, Alberga served as an infantry instruction officer. After leaving the Army, Alberga worked for a bail bond company, retiring in the 1960s. He also organized several drum and bugle corps in the Bay Area. In Alameda on Thursday.