West Point’s 1st Black Graduate Is Exonerated

Henry O. Flipper’s joyful descendants celebrated his final exoneration Friday, more than a century after his historic achievement as West Point’s first black graduate was tarnished by a racially motivated military discharge.

“We are grateful to God that this day has come,” said Robert Alexander Jr., Flipper’s great-grandnephew.

He was among 17 descendants of the Army lieutenant who came to a White House ceremony Friday night at which President Clinton was issuing Flipper a presidential pardon.

Clinton’s pardon reverses an 1882 decision by President Chester A. Arthur to give Flipper the high punishment of a dishonorable discharge.

Flipper was convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer, but the Army’s judge advocate general later concluded he had been singled out because of his race.

Although the pardon was a long time in coming, Flipper has been lionized for years. In 1977, his remains were reburied with full military honors in Thomasville, Ga., where he was born a slave, and Gen. Colin L. Powell kept a photo of him on his wall while serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Like the rest of the family, I’m relieved that this has come full circle,” said Dr. William King, Flipper’s great-nephew.

King’s mother, Irsle Flipper King, was instrumental in beginning the push for Flipper’s pardon in the 1950s.

“It’s very exciting because he’s finally getting the honor he deserves,” said one of Flipper’s youngest relatives, his great-great-grandniece Blake Alexander, 9.

“We are all very happy and very proud,” said William Davis, a great-grandnephew.

Flipper never married and had no children.

Flipper entered West Point in 1873. Ostracized by white cadets, he dedicated himself to hard work, graduating 50th in a class of 76. The first black commissioned officer in the regular U.S. Army, Flipper was assigned to Fort Sill, Okla., to the 10th Cavalry, the “Buffalo Soldiers,” one of only two all-black units in the Army.

In 1881, his commanding officer at Fort Davis in Texas accused Flipper of failing to account properly for commissary money entrusted to him.

A general court-martial acquitted Flipper of embezzlement but convicted him of conduct unbecoming an officer--in a case the judge advocate general later concluded was racially motivated.

In 1976, the Army granted Flipper an honorable discharge, but only Clinton could formally overturn Arthur’s decision.