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'''Roscoe Conklin "Rock" Cartwright''' (May 27, 1919 - December 1, 1974) was the United States' third-ever African American [[U.S. Army]] [[Brigadier General]] and the first black field artilleryman promoted to [[Brigadier General]].<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref>
'''Roscoe Conklin "Rock" Cartwright''' (May 27, 1919 - December 1, 1974) was the United States' third-ever African American [[U.S. Army]] [[Brigadier General]] and the first black field artilleryman promoted to [[Brigadier General]].<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref>


==Early Life, Education, ==
==Early Life, Education, Personal Life==
Cartwright was born in [[Kansas City, Kansas]] on May 27, 1919. Raised in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], Cartwright graduated from [[Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)|Booker T. Washington High School]] in 1936.<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref> He attended [[Kansas State Teachers College]] at [[Emporia, Kansas]]. Unable to afford his tuition at Kansas State, Cartwright ended his studies and worked at the [[University of Tulsa]] and the [[Bubble-Up Bottling Company]].<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref> In June 1960, Cartwright graduated from San Francisco State College with a BA Degree in Social Science.<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref> He also earned a MBA in Business Administration from the University of Missouri.
Cartwright was born in [[Kansas City, Kansas]] on May 27, 1919. Raised in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], Cartwright graduated from [[Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)|Booker T. Washington High School]] in 1936.<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref> He attended [[Kansas State Teachers College]] at [[Emporia, Kansas]]. Unable to afford his tuition at Kansas State, Cartwright ended his studies and worked at the [[University of Tulsa]] and the [[Bubble-Up Bottling Company]].<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref> In June 1960, Cartwright graduated from San Francisco State College with a BA Degree in Social Science.<ref> BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm </ref> He also earned a MBA in Business Administration from the University of Missouri.


Cartwright was a 1974 initiate of [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] Fraternity, Inc. a traditionally African-American college fraternity. Cartwright was also a 33rd degree mason.
Cartwright was a 1974 initiate of [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] Fraternity, Inc. a traditionally African-American college fraternity. Cartwright was also a 33rd degree mason.

While temporarily stationed at [[Camp Robinson]] near [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], Cartwright married Gloria Lacefied Cartwright, a native of [[Hope, Arkansas]].<ref> The Rocks. "About R.C. Cartwright." https://www.rocksinc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=459944&module_id=54305 </ref> They had four children.<ref> The Rocks. "About R.C. Cartwright." https://www.rocksinc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=459944&module_id=54305 </ref>


==Military Career==
==Military Career==

Revision as of 16:34, 21 August 2021

For the American football running back, see Rock Cartwright.
black military leaders
Brigadier General Roscoe "Rock" Cartwright
General Roscoe "Rock" Conkln Cartwright
1971 Alpha Phi Alpha Award of Honor in Sphinx magazine

Roscoe Conklin "Rock" Cartwright (May 27, 1919 - December 1, 1974) was the United States' third-ever African American U.S. Army Brigadier General and the first black field artilleryman promoted to Brigadier General.[1]

Early Life, Education, Personal Life

Cartwright was born in Kansas City, Kansas on May 27, 1919. Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cartwright graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1936.[2] He attended Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, Kansas. Unable to afford his tuition at Kansas State, Cartwright ended his studies and worked at the University of Tulsa and the Bubble-Up Bottling Company.[3] In June 1960, Cartwright graduated from San Francisco State College with a BA Degree in Social Science.[4] He also earned a MBA in Business Administration from the University of Missouri.

Cartwright was a 1974 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. a traditionally African-American college fraternity. Cartwright was also a 33rd degree mason.

While temporarily stationed at Camp Robinson near Little Rock, Arkansas, Cartwright married Gloria Lacefied Cartwright, a native of Hope, Arkansas.[5] They had four children.[6]

Military Career

In 1941, the U.S. Army drafted Cartwright into the US Army as an enlisted man.[7] The segregated US Army assigned him to the all-African American enlisted men 349th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The unit's officer were all white except the chaplain, an African American man.[8]

In November 1942, Cartwright graduated from Officers Candidate School, receiving a commission as a Field Artillery Second Lieutenant in the 599th Field Artillery Battalion of the all-African American brigade of the 92nd Infantry Division, best known as the Buffalo Soldiers[9] Serving primarily in Italy, Cartwright remained with the 599th throughout the remainder of World War II. After World War II, the US Army promoted Cartwright to First Lieutenant.[10]

As a Captain, Cartwright served in Japan and Korea.[11] In 1954, the U.S. Army transferred Cartwright from a segregated unit into the "regular" integrated army as a Major. He served in Vietnam until 1971, when he became the third African American after General Benjamin O. Davis Sr, and General Benjamin O. Davis Jr to be promoted to brigadier general.[12]

After working at the Pentagon, Cartwright retired from the military in 1974.[13] He had served in the U.S. military for 33 years.[14]

Major Assignments

  • November 1963-August 1966: Comptroller, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
  • August 1966-July 1968: Management Analyst, later Chief, Management Planning Division, later Chief, Research and Development Division, Office of the Director of Management, Office, Comptroller of the Army, Washington, DC.
  • August 1968-June 1969: Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.
  • August 1969-January 1970: Commanding Officer, 108th Artillery Group, U.S. Army Pacific – Vietnam.
  • February-July 1970: Deputy Commanding Officer, U.S. Army Support Command, Cam Ranh Bay U.S. Army, Pacific – Vietnam.
  • August 1970-July 1971: Chief, Budget and Five Year Defense Program, Coordination Division, Manpower and Forces Directorate, Officer of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, U.S. Army, Washington, DC.
  • July-November 1971: Special Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, U.S. Army, Washington, DC.
  • November 1971-February 1972: Director of Management, Review and Analysis, Officer, Comptroller of the Army, Washington, DC.
  • February 1972-July 1973: Assistant Division Command, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, Europe.
  • August 1973-August 1974: Deputy Chief of Staff, Comptroller, U.S. Army, Europe and Seventh Army

Medals and Awards

Military Schools

Roscoe C. Cartwright Prince Hall Lodge No. 129 paying respects to namesake on Memorial Day 2015
Roscoe C. Cartwright Prince Hall Lodge No. 129 paying respects to namesake on Memorial Day 2015
  • The Artillery School, School, Advanced Course
  • United States Army Command and General Staff College
  • Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Death, TWA Flight 514 Crash

On December 1, 1974, Cartwright and his wife Gloria were killed on TWA Flight 514 when the Boeing 727, flying in bad weather, crashed into the wooded slope of a 1,725-feet mountain 25 nautical miles northwest of Dulles International Airport.[15] All 92 people aboard (85 passengers and 7 crew members) were killed.[16] Cartwright's flight was the worst air disaster of 1974. Cartwright and Gloria were returning from visiting their daughter for Thanksgiving.[17]

Cartwright and his wife Gloria were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[18]

Legacy

  • Cartwright was co-founder of The Rocks, Inc., the largest professional military officers organization with a majority African-American membership.[19][20] The organization has been essential in the development of black military officers including member Colin Powell, as discussed in his autobiography.[21]

Career highlights

[23]

References

  1. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  2. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  3. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  4. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  5. ^ The Rocks. "About R.C. Cartwright." https://www.rocksinc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=459944&module_id=54305
  6. ^ The Rocks. "About R.C. Cartwright." https://www.rocksinc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=459944&module_id=54305
  7. ^ "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright". Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  9. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  10. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  11. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  12. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  13. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  14. ^ The Rocks. "About R.C. Cartwright." https://www.rocksinc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=459944&module_id=54305
  15. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  16. ^ "The Crash of TWA Flight 514". Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  17. ^ BHA. "Brigadier General Roscoe C. Cartwright." http://www.myblackhistory.net/Roscoe_Cartwright.htm
  18. ^ Burial Details: Cartwright, Roscoe C – ANC Explorer
  19. ^ MOAA Magazine "Reaching Up, Reaching Out".
  20. ^ Roscoe Rock Cartwright Biography from RCC 129 by Dorian Cartwright. http://www.rcc129.org/bg-cartwright.html
  21. ^ Steins, R. (2003). Colin Powell: a biography. United Kingdom: Greenwood Press
  22. ^ Roscoe C. Cartwright Prince Hall Masonic Lodge
  23. ^ https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=2318
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