Gen. Michael E. Langley, the first African American to ever be promoted to the rank of four-star general in the history of the Marine Corps, credited his father with encouraging him to “reach high” and predicted that his elevation, which took place on Saturday, will have an effect on younger people.
Gen. Michael E. Langley was the first African American to ever be promoted to the rank of four-star general in the history of the Marine Corps.
Langley was born in Shreveport, Louisiana; but, because his father was in the Air Force, he spent the majority of his youth moving around to different military bases all over the country.
In 1985, when he had finished his studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and worked his way up to the rank of second lieutenant during his service.
“My daddy encouraged me to aim high, so I aimed as high as I could and found the few and the proud,” Langley said during a ceremony at Marine Corps Barracks Washington that was also attended by his father and other members of his family. The ceremony was held in honour of Langley’s promotion to the rank of Sergeant First Class.
Although it can trace its roots all the way back to 1775, the United States Marine Corps did not start actively recruiting black men into its ranks until the year 1942.
It wasn’t until 1948 that President Harry Truman issued an order that led to the integration of the military services in the United States of America, which had previously been segregated.
A significant event that took place thirty years later occurred when the first African American Marine to ever serve in the Marine Corps was elevated to the rank of one-star general in the year 1979.
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In June, the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, made the announcement that President Joe Biden had put in a recommendation for Langley to be elevated to the rank of general.
Langley’s nomination received support from Austin, who expressed their faith in him. The figure was assigned the responsibility of directing the United States Africa Command in conjunction with their promotion, and the command’s headquarters are located in Stuttgart, Germany.
The appointment was given the Senate’s consent and their blessing after they voted on Monday to accept his nomination for the job and give their blessing to the appointment.
According to a report that was put out by the Marine Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Langley delivered the speech that can be found below during the ceremony that took place on Saturday.
According to the report, “the milestone and what it symbolises to the Corps is quite essential.” This was stated further on in the report.
“Not because of the impression it will leave in history, but because of what it will affect moving forward, particularly for those younger individuals across society who want to achieve and look at the Marine Corps as an opportunity,”
