Alfred Masters

Alfred Masters (February 5, 1916 – June 16, 1975) was an American member of the United States Marine Corps. Masters was the first African American member of the Marine Corps at his swearing-in on June 1, 1942, 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.

Alfred Masters
Born(1916-02-05)February 5, 1916
Palestine, Texas
DiedJune 16, 1975(1975-06-16) (aged 59)
Anthony, New Mexico
Buried
Fort Bliss National Cemetery
RankTechnical Sergeant
UnitUnited States Marine Corps
Spouse(s)Isabell Masters (divorced), Mary Hendricks
1942 article

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

References
  1. Shaw Jr., Henry I.; Donnelly, Ralph W. (1995). "Blacks in the Marine Corps". Air University. Retrieved December 1, 2011. p. 2
  2. Coral Anika Theill. "World War II Montford Point Marines: Honoring And Preserving Their Legacy". Leatherneck Magazine. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  3. Williams, Janette (2011-09-20). "Political activist Isabell Masters, whose presidential ambitions started in Pasadena, dies at 98". Pasadena Star-News. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  4. "Isabell Masters obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
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