Black History Moment--Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson-Brown

Hazel Johnson-Brown's dream was to become a nurse.  She attended the Harlem School of Nursing.  Her career began at Harlem Hospital as an operating nurse after completing her studies.  In 1955, seven years after President Truman eliminated segregation in the military, Hazel W. Johnson-Brown made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Army.  She impressed her superiors with her incredible talent and multiple assignments across the world.  She made history after being promoted in 1979 to brigadier general.  With that promotion she took charge of 7,000 nurses in the Army Nurse Corps, making her the first Black woman general officer to hold that post.  When Johnson-Brown received her promotion, she said, “Race is an incidence of birth .... I hope the criterion for selection did not include race but competence.” Brig. Gen. Johnson-Brown served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1983, receiving multiple awards and decorations. (from Radio.com)