Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Julius Wesley Becton Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Cold War; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps; Army
- Unit of Service: US Army Operational Test and Evaluation Center; 9th Infantry Regiment; 542nd Heavy Construction Company; 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Infantry Division; 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division; 1st Cavalry Division; VII Corps; 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
- Location of Service: Fort Hood, Texas; Falls Church, Virginia; Germany; Korea; Philippines; Fort Benning Georgia; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; France; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/75519
The son of a janitor from Pennsylvania, Lieutenant General Julius Becton's career in the Army spanned multiple decades, conflicts, and continents--as well as profound changes within the military itself. Commissioned as an officer in August 1945, he served with a racially segregated unit in Moratai and the Philippines; after the war, he went back to civilian life, only to return to the Army following desegregation of the military. Departing for Korea in 1950, he led troops through a number of harrowing situations and was wounded twice himself. He received further training and additional promotions during the interwar period, and in 1967, he deployed to Vietnam, where he served as commander of a cavalry squadron of the 101st Airborne Division. Throughout his distinguished career--he reached the rank of Lieutenant General in 1978, and retired from the Army in 1983--he stayed true to his guiding philosophy of integrity above all.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlaySent to Moratai in the Pacific; joined segregated unit; youngest Lieutenant in regiment; interaction with all-white battalion; sent to the Philippines; return to the United States. 00:08:10.0 - 00:10:55.5
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PlayGoing to college on a football scholarship and using the GI Bill; injured; going back on active duty; desegregation of Army; assignments and training during interwar years. 00:12:24.1 - 00:16:18.6
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PlayArriving in Korea; part of an all-black battalion; being thrown into combat as a test; proving themselves; trapped in firefight in no man's land; wounded by shrapnel 00:20:51.2 - 00:24:01.4
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PlayWounded again; bitter cold in Korea; taking command of a company that had lost of all its officers. 00:26:40.8 - 00:34:15.2
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PlayOffered command of a cavalry squadron in the 101st Airborne, which would be deploying to Vietnam; new type of assignment; having to prove that he was capable of commanding this kind of unit. 00:53:47.2 - 00:55:19.1
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PlayDeployed to Vietnam in December 1967; after Tet Offensive, moved from Central Vietnam to Hue; sent to Cu Chi to serve as executive officer; rejoined unit in July 1968; combat; pride in unit. 00:55:10.4 - 00:57:42.5
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PlayRace relations within his unit; unique position as only African American battalion commander in the division; special quality of his unit. 00:58:09.8 - 01:03:00.13
About this Item
Title
- Julius Wesley Becton Collection
Names
- Veterans History Project
- Library of Congress
- Billington, James H.
- Becton, Julius Wesley
Home State
- Virginia
Headings
- - Becton, Julius Wesley
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 542nd Heavy Construction Company; 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Infantry Division; 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division; 1st Cavalry Division; VII Corps
- Location of Service: Philippines; Fort Benning Georgia; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; France
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
- Dates of Service: 1943-1983
- Military Status: veteran
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Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 9th Infantry Regiment
- Location of Service: Korea
- Military Status: veteran
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Military Status: veteran
-
Cold War
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: US Army Operational Test and Evaluation Center
- Location of Service: Fort Hood, Texas; Falls Church, Virginia; Germany
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2010-11-02; 2010-11-02)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2010-11-02; 2010-11-02)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2006-01-07; 2006)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-01-07; 2013-02-08)
- Manuscript: Clippings [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2015-09)
- Video: Digital File [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2010-11-02; 2019-04-15)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/75519
Cite as
- Julius Wesley Becton Collection (AFC/2001/001/75519), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Falls Church, Virginia
- Fort Benning Georgia
- Fort Hood, Texas
- France
- Germany
- Korea
- Macdill Air Force Base, Florida
- Philippines
- Vietnam
Service Unit
- 101st Airborne Division
- 17th Cavalry Regiment
- 1st Cavalry Division
- 2nd Armored Division
- 2nd Brigade
- 2nd Squadron
- 369th Infantry Regiment
- 542nd Heavy Construction Company
- 93rd Infantry Division
- 9th Infantry Regiment
- US Army Operational Test and Evaluation Center
- VII Corps