Pvt. Robert Brooks was drafted into the U.S. Army, while living in Ohio, and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training. He was assigned to D Company 192nd Tank Battalion since he was born in Kentucky. On December 8, 1941, he was killed during the attack by the Japanese on Clark Airfield in the Philippines. Brooks was the first American tank crew member to die in World War II. The main parade ground at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, was named after him on December 24, 1941.
It was just before the dedication of the parade ground, in his honor, that it was discovered he was an African-American who had been assigned to a White army unit. The commanding general at the base stated his color was insignificant. In 2011, a new, more prominent, memorial marker was placed at Brooks Field. The original marker is now on display at the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox.
For more information, go to:
www.bataanproject.com/brooks.htm
It was just before the dedication of the parade ground, in his honor, that it was discovered he was an African-American who had been assigned to a White army unit. The commanding general at the base stated his color was insignificant. In 2011, a new, more prominent, memorial marker was placed at Brooks Field. The original marker is now on display at the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox.
For more information, go to:
www.bataanproject.com/brooks.htm
Pvt. Robert Brooks was drafted into the U.S. Army, while living in Ohio, and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training. He was assigned to D Company 192nd Tank Battalion since he was born in Kentucky. On December 8, 1941, he was killed during the attack by the Japanese on Clark Airfield in the Philippines. Brooks was the first American tank crew member to die in World War II. The main parade ground at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, was named after him on December 24, 1941.
It was just before the dedication of the parade ground, in his honor, that it was discovered he was an African-American who had been assigned to a White army unit. The commanding general at the base stated his color was insignificant. In 2011, a new, more prominent, memorial marker was placed at Brooks Field. The original marker is now on display at the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox.
For more information, go to:
www.bataanproject.com/brooks.htm
It was just before the dedication of the parade ground, in his honor, that it was discovered he was an African-American who had been assigned to a White army unit. The commanding general at the base stated his color was insignificant. In 2011, a new, more prominent, memorial marker was placed at Brooks Field. The original marker is now on display at the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox.
For more information, go to:
www.bataanproject.com/brooks.htm
