When we talk about legendary Black athletes breaking barriers, we often focus on their game-changing moments in stadiums and arenas. But many of these same icons wore another uniform first—one representing a country that hadn't yet granted them full equality. The recent temporary disappearance of Jackie Robinson's Department of Defense page—swiftly restored after public outcry—reminds us how easily these vital American stories can fade from view. For these athletes, serving their country while facing discrimination both in uniform and out adds another layer to their already remarkable legacies.

Some of the below links to government sites honoring these men result in 404 errors or send users to unrelated pages; we've kept them in the story as a point to show how easily our history can be erased if the proper precautions aren't taken.

Jackie Robinson
There is no person in sports more associated with the Civil Rights Movement than Jackie Robinson. His first MLB game was April 15, 1947. That was seven years before the Supreme Court ruled against segregated schools.

On the morning of March 18, 2025, ESPN's top baseball insider, Jeff Passan, let the world know that Robinson's Department of Defense page had a dead URL. Later that day, following national outrage, the page was restored.

It should never be forgotten that Robinson served in a segregated unit during World War II, and also that he was drafted into the military and served his country. Here are some other Black athletes who also have been members of the American military.

Willie Mays
In 1951, Mays made his MLB debut for the New York Giants and finished the season as the National League Rookie of the Year. He played only 34 games in 1952 and none in 1953.

Mays took off nearly two full seasons because he was drafted into the military during the Korean War. He reported to Fort Eustis in Newport News, Va. and he never left the United States. He played baseball where he was stationed. The war ended in the summer of 1953. He took field again in 1954 and won a World Series along with the National League MVP.

Mays believed that he could have hit 40 home runs each of the two seasons that he missed. That would have given him 740 for his careers instead of 660, and he would have broken Babe Ruth's record before Hank Aaron.

Roberto Clemente
The Pittsburgh Pirates were in rebuilding mode when Clemente made his debut in 1955. They won more than 60 games once that decade. During his career, they won two World Series and he was the National League MVP in 1966.

Clemente enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1958. He completed his basic training in Parris Island, South Carolina where he broke records for most chin ups and fastest obstacle course time. He served as a reserve every offseason until 1964.

Larry Doby
The man who broke the color barrier in the American League for the Cleveland Franchise in summer 1947, 11 weeks after Robinson. He made seven all-star teams and won a World Series in 1948 – the only other one that franchise won was in 1920.

While still in the Negro Leagues with the Newark Eagles, and a freshman ROTC member and basketball player at Virginia Union College, Doby was drafted during World War II. He served in the Navy for three years, and during the last year of the war he was stationed in Guam.

Leon Spinks
He was the third man to defeat Muhammad Ali in the ring, and he did so in his seventh professional fight. That fight was for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship. Spinks won by split decision.

In 1973, Spinks enlisted in the Marines and served until 1976. He was an amateur boxer at that time and continued to compete. Spinks won three consecutive AAU light heavyweight championships, and a gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1975 at that same weight.

Joe Louis
America was pulling for Louis during his second fight against the German Max Schmeling in 1938 at Yankee Stadium. Louis had already defended the Heavyweight Championship three times and did not relinquish it until 1950.

He enlisted in the American military during World War II in 1942. Louis did not participate in combat, however, he fought in 96 exhibitions in front of American troops as the audience. Professionally, Louis did not fight from March 1942 until November 1944.

Ken Norton Sr.
The second man to defeat Muhammad Ali. Norton won that fight by split decision in March 1973, and broke Ali's jaw in the process. Ali was not the champion at the time. Norton won the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1977.

He enlisted in the Marines in 1963 after hurting his shoulder playing football at Northeast Missouri State. Norton served until 1967. Norton started boxing during his time as a marine. He won three All-Marine titles.

David Robinson
This "Admiral" had no thoughts of becoming a professional basketball player when he enrolled at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He played one year of high school basketball in Virginia.

As a freshman player at the Navy he was 6 foot 6, 175 pounds. Robinson grew seven inches in college and would eventually lead his school to its first regional final since 1954. The San Antonio Spurs selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 draft but he still had to serve two years of military service.

Robinson was Rookie of the Year when he joined the Spurs for the 1989-90 season. He played on the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, won NBA MVP in 1995, and his Spurs were NBA Champions in 1999 and 2003.

Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton
Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton became the first African American to sign a contract with the New York Knicks in 1950, helping break the NBA's color barrier. Before his NBA career, Clifton served three years in the United States Army during World War II after playing one season at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Following his military service, he showcased his talents with the all-Black New York Rens and Harlem Globetrotters before making history with the Knicks. His smooth style and 6'7" frame made him an imposing presence on the court, averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds per game during his NBA career. In 2014, Clifton was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as both a basketball pioneer and veteran.

Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor, recognized as one of the NBA's 75 greatest players ever, performed a remarkable balancing act during the 1961-62 season. While stationed on active duty with the U.S. Army Reserves, Baylor would obtain weekend passes to play for the Lakers. Despite this part-time basketball schedule, he averaged an astonishing 38.3 points and 18.6 rebounds per game—statistics that remain among the most impressive single-season performances in NBA history.

The 11-time All-Star revolutionized the forward position with his aerial acrobatics and scoring prowess, laying the groundwork for future high-flying stars. His military obligations came during the height of his athletic prime, making his continued excellence on court all the more extraordinary.

Fun fact: R&B singer Ginuwine's real name is Elgin Baylor Lumpkin.

Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens, the only person enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame three times (as player, coach, and assistant coach for the 1992 Dream Team), saw his burgeoning NBA career interrupted by military service. After being selected sixth overall in the 1960 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks, Wilkens missed most of his sophomore season fulfilling his Army Reserve duties in 1962—coincidentally during the same period when Elgin Baylor was also balancing military service and professional basketball.

Wilkens would return to become a nine-time NBA All-Star as a player before embarking on a legendary coaching career that included an NBA championship with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 and Olympic gold with Team USA in 1996. His 1,332 coaching victories stood as the NBA record until 2010.

Harrison Dillard
Harrison Dillard's journey from war to Olympic glory exemplifies resilience and excellence. Serving in the U.S. Army's 92nd Infantry Division—a segregated unit famously known as the Buffalo Soldiers—during World War II, Dillard risked his life dodging mortar fire in Italy. After returning from combat, he became one of track and field's greatest competitors.

Nicknamed "Bones" for his slender frame, Dillard made Olympic history by becoming the only man to win gold medals in both sprints and hurdles across different Games. At the 1948 London Olympics, he claimed gold in the 100 meters—an event he wasn't expected to win—and added another gold in the 4x100 relay. Four years later in Helsinki, he dominated his specialty, the 110-meter hurdles, while adding another relay gold. Throughout his extraordinary career, Dillard credited his military discipline for enhancing his athletic focus and determination.

Mal Whitfield
Mal Whitfield, known as "Marvelous Mal," a Tuskegee Airman with the U.S. Air Force during and after World War II, served in one of the military's most celebrated and groundbreaking units. What makes his athletic achievements even more remarkable is that he won his first Olympic gold medals in the 800 meters and 4x400 relay at the 1948 London Games while still on active duty.

Four years later, while still serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Whitfield successfully defended his 800-meter title at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He reportedly trained for these Games by running on airfields, sometimes dodging planes, between his shifts as a tail gunner flying combat missions over Korea. After his military and athletic careers, Whitfield became a goodwill ambassador and sports development leader across Africa, extending his legacy of service far beyond the track.