Veterans Day: Notable African-American Soldiers

African-Americans played a crucial role in American wars.

Veterans Day - Historically, African-Americans have been fighting all their lives; for freedom, for equality and for their country. In honor of Veterans Day, BET.com takes a look at notable African-American war heroes and infantries. — Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Lewis Martin - Blacks weren’t considered men, or citizens, yet, but they were allowed to fight in the Civil War in 1861. Lewis Martin was a member of the 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, and had to have his leg and arm amputated due to battle wounds accrued in the famous Battle of the Crater in July 1864.(Photo: National Archive) Nurse Susie King Taylor - In the 1800s, it was illegal for African-Americans to receive any type of education, but Susie Taylor wasn’t afraid of the law and snuck in lessons at an “underground” school. Her passion to help others, coupled with her unique education, led her to meet Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, and she worked alongside Barton as a nurse in the Civil War until it ended in 1865.(Photo: WikiCommons)

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Veterans Day - Historically, African-Americans have been fighting all their lives; for freedom, for equality and for their country. In honor of Veterans Day, BET.com takes a look at notable African-American war heroes and infantries. — Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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