Aaron R. Fisher

Fisher enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 28, 1911, at Jefferson Barracks near Saint Louis, Missouri,[2][5] and was sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio, and Leon Springs, Texas, for military training.[2] Initially assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment, one of four African-American regiments in the U.S. Army at the time, Fisher was transferred to the 24th Infantry Regiment, another African-American regiment. He was promoted to the rank of corporal on September 13, 1914. By 1916 Fisher was performing guard duty in New Mexico and across the border in Mexico. Fisher was promoted to sergeant on December 31, 1916. In early 1917, when the United States entered World War I, Fisher was serving with the 24th Infantry at Douglas, Arizona, and at Camp Furlong, New Mexico.[6]

Fisher continued his military service in the 366th Infantry Regiment, one of the four infantry regiments that comprised the 92nd Infantry Division, one of the two black infantry divisions formed at the end of 1917. Fisher completed a 90-day Officer Candidate School at Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School in Des Moines, Iowa, in May 1918 and was deployed to Europe on June 15, 1918.[5][7]

Fisher received a commission as a second lieutenant, effective June 1, 1918,[5][8] and served in the 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division.[5][9] Fisher was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the country's second highest honor awarded for valor,[10] for his "extraordinary heroism in action" in a battle that took place on September 3, 1918,[11] when the 92nd Division was stationed in the Saint Die sector in France.[2] Fisher's citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Aaron R. Fisher, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 366th Infantry Regiment, 92d Division, A.E.F., near Lesseux, France, 3 September 1918. Lieutenant Fisher showed exceptional bravery in action when his position was raided by a superior force of the enemy by directing his men and refusing to leave his position, although he was severely wounded. He and his men continued to fight the enemy until the latter were beaten off by counterattack.[11]

Because Fisher's effort was made in support of America's French allies, the government of France bestowed upon him its Croix de Guerre with gold star on May 17, 1910,[2] acknowledging him as "an officer of admirable courage."[5] Fisher, who was wounded in action, was later awarded the Purple Heart.[2]

After the war Fisher decided to remain in the U.S. Army, although it would require giving up his officer's commission.[12] He was discharged as a commissioned officer on March 17, 1919, but reenlisted as a first sergeant in the 24th Infantry Regiment and served along the U.S-Mexican border.[4][12] Black Officers who elected to stay in the service generally were reverted to warrant officer rank[13] and Fisher was promoted to the grade of warrant officer on August 20, 1921. In addition, he was appointed as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and served as a reserve officer until 1947. Fisher was assigned to the Eighth Corps Headquarters at Fort Bliss, Texas, attended Quartermaster School at Philadelphia from September 1923 to June 1924, and continued his service in Arizona and New Mexico. He also served three years at Schofield Barracks (1927 to 1930) in Hawaii and completed a two-year tour of duty in the Philippines, before returning to the United States in 1934 for a year of service in San Francisco, California, with the Headquarters, Second Corps Area.[12]

On June 29, 1936, Fisher was appointed to the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) military tactics unit at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio,[14][15] where he remained as an instructor for eleven and a half years.[16] His students included World War II Medal of Honor recipient John R. Fox.[13] Fisher was promoted to chief warrant officer on June 16, 1942, but the Wilberforce cadets addressed him as "Cap" for Captain Fisher. He retired from the military in 1947.[4][14][16]