Frederick C. Branch: First Black Marine Corps Officer & Kappa Alpha Psi Brother

Captain Frederick C. Branch broke barriers as the first African American officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was also a devoted brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Born in Hamlet, North Carolina in 1922 and raised in New York, Branch began his higher education at Johnson C. Smith University, where he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi. He later transferred to Temple University to complete his studies.

In 1943, during World War II, Branch was drafted into the U.S. Army but soon became part of the newly integrated Marine Corps. He trained with the segregated Montford Point Marines and later applied for Officer Candidate School. Although initially denied due to racial prejudice, his exemplary service earned him a recommendation to officer training via the Navy V-12 program at Purdue University—where he stood out as the only African American in his class.

On November 10, 1945, Branch was commissioned as a second lieutenant—the same day the Marine Corps celebrates its birthday—making him the first Black man to achieve this rank in the Corps. During the Korean War, he reactivated his service, eventually rising to the rank of Captain.

After his military service concluded in 1955, Branch turned to education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and taught in Philadelphia public schools for decades. His legacy in both service and scholarship continues to inspire.

Source inspiration: WatchTheYard.com