Edward Honor Sr. (17 March 1933 – 3 September 2008)[1] was a lieutenant general in the United States Army who served as Director of Logistics (J4) on the Joint Staff from 1987 to 1989.[2] Promoted to brigadier general in 1979, he was the first African-American general officer in the Army Transportation Corps.[3][4]
Edward Honor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 March 1933 Melville, Louisiana |
| Died | 3 September 2008 (aged 75) Washington, D.C. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1954–1989 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Military Traffic Management Command Military Traffic Management Command, Transportation Terminal Group-Europe 37th Transportation Group, 4th Transportation Brigade 24th Transportation Battalion, 124th Transportation Command 36th Transportation Battalion, 124th Transportation Command |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Bronze Star Medal (2) Meritorious Service Medal (2) |
Early life and education edit
Born in Melville, Louisiana, Honor attended Southern University and A&M College where he joined Alpha Phi Alpha[2] and Army ROTC. He earned a B.A. degree in education in 1954.[5][6]
Military career edit
During the Vietnam War, Honor assumed command of the 36th Transportation Battalion in July 1969[4] and the 24th Transportation Battalion in December 1969, both of which were part of the 124th Transportation Command at Cam Ranh Bay.[7] He later commanded the 37th Transportation Group in Germany,[3] Military Traffic Management Command at Transportation Terminal Group-Europe in Rotterdam[5] from 1983 to 1984 and then all of Military Traffic Management Command from 1986 to 1987.[3]
Honor was a co-founder of the African-American military officer mentoring group The Rocks in 1974.[2] He was promoted to major general in 1984 and lieutenant general in 1987.[3]
Later career edit
After his retirement from active duty in 1989, Honor served as president of the National Defense Transportation Association until 2002.[2]
Personal edit
Honor was the son of Louis and Doretha "Retha" (Jackson) Honor.[2][8]
Honor married Phyllis Virginia Whitehurst[5] (born 24 June 1945) on 13 August 1978 in Alexandria, Virginia. His second marriage to Harlean Redell Copeland[9] (born 27 August 1936) had ended in divorce in July 1968,[8] and his second wife had remarried in April 1974.[10] Honor had a son Edward Jr., daughter Beverly Ann, and three grandchildren from his three marriages.[2]
After his death, Honor was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 1 December 2008.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b "Honor, Edward". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ a b c d e f "Edward Honor Sr". The Washington Post. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ a b c d Passannante, August (4 July 2018). "Edward Honor Sr. (1933-2008)". blackpast.org. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ a b "36th Transportation Battalion" (PDF). U.S. Army Transportation Corps. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ a b c "Major General Edward Honor". Army Executive Biographies. Headquarters, Department of the Army. 1985. p. 263. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ U.S. Army Register: Active and Retired List. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army. 1 January 1966. p. 267. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ "24th Transportation Battalion" (PDF). U.S. Army Transportation Corps. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ a b "Marriage Return (for Edward Honor and Phyllis Whitehurst)". No. 78–036299. Richmond, Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.
- ^ "Marriage Return (for James Short and Beverly Honor)". No. 80–002649. Richmond, Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.
- ^ "Marriage Return (for Luke Owens and Harlean Honor)". No. 74–012966. Richmond, Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.
Further reading edit
- Mentoring and Leading: The Career of Lieutenant General Edward Honor Archived 2022-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, Richard E. Killblane, Fort Eustis, Virginia: U.S. Army Transportation Center, 2003.
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