BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " ALFRED MASTERS " WAS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND BECAME THE VERY FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THE UNITED STATES MARINES : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK HEROES "

              BLACK  SOCIAL  HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Alfred Masters

Alfred Masters
Born	February 5, 1916 Palestine, Texas
Died	June 16, 1975 (aged 59) Anthony, New Mexico
Rank	Technical Sergeant
Unit	United States Marine Corps
Spouse(s)	Isabell Masters (divorced), Mary Hendricks

Alfred Masters (February 5, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an African-American member of the United States Marine Corps. Masters became the very first African American in the United States Marines at his swearing-in on June 1, 1942, at 12:01 am in Oklahoma City and then his first training camp was Montford Point in North Carolina.^[1][2][3] Masters rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Masters married Isabell Masters. They had three daughters, Shirley Jean, Alfreda Dean and Cora Lavonne Masters,but the marriage ended in divorce in the 1940's.^[4]

Isabell Masters went on to become an educator and five-time U.S. presidential candidate.^[4] In 1994, their daughter Cora became the fourth wife of politician Marion Barry.^[4]

Alfred Masters married Mary Hendricks in 1949 and they had five children, 3 girls--Mary Ann Masters, Kathryn Louise Masters and Carolyn Donata Masters Faulkner--and 2 boys--Otto Joe Masters and Alfred Dan Masters.

Alfred Masters died in Anthony, New Mexico on June 16, 1975. He is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas^[5]