Born: October 10, 1927 (West Chester, Pennsylvania)
Died: August 5, 2011
Biography:
Hazel Winifred Johnson-Brown (October 10, 1927 – August 5, 2011) was a nurse and educator who served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1983. In 1979, she became the first Black female general in the United States Army and the first Black chief of the United States Army Nurse Corps. She was also the Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing.
Born on October 10, 1927, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Hazel Johnson-Brown was the daughter of Clarence L. Johnson Sr. and Garnett Henley Johnson. Growing up in a family of seven children, she had four brothers and two sisters. Her parents were farmers who made a living from livestock and selling fruits and vegetables.
Johnson-Brown’s educational journey began at East Whiteland Elementary School, where she attended alongside her siblings. Later, she enrolled in Tredyffrin-Easttown Junior Senior High School, where her exceptional academic abilities stood out. At the age of 12, Johnson-Brown developed a strong aspiration to become a nurse.
However, her dreams faced an early setback when she applied to Chester County Hospital School of Nursing and was denied admission due to her race. Undeterred by this discrimination, she decided to move to New York City to attend the Harlem School of Nursing in 1947. This marked the beginning of her nursing career, which she launched at the Harlem Hospital emergency ward as a beginning level staff nurse.
In 1955, seven years after President Harry Truman eliminated segregation in the military, Hazel Johnson-Brown enlisted in the United States Army. She quickly impressed her superiors with her skills in the operating room and began rising through the ranks. Her talent as a surgeon led to various assignments across the world, including Asia. Johnson-Brown served in Japan and trained nurses who would later be deployed to Vietnam. Although she was originally assigned to go to Vietnam herself, she fell ill just before deployment. Tragically, the nurse who took her place was killed in a surprise attack when the unit arrived in Vietnam.
Johnson-Brown’s dedication and expertise in her field did not go unnoticed. In 1977, she was mentioned in Ebony magazine as one of the real ‘heavies’ in her field. The publication also anticipated her becoming the first black woman general. Twenty-four years later, in 1979, she made history when she was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, becoming the first Black woman to achieve this milestone. With this promotion, Johnson-Brown took charge of 7,000 nurses in the Army Nurse Corps, solidifying her place as a trailblazer and role model for generations to come.
Throughout her career, Hazel Johnson-Brown emphasized the importance of merit and competence over race. During her promotion, she made a poignant statement: Race is an incidence of birth. She further emphasized that she hoped the criterion for selection did not include race, but rather competence.
In addition to her contributions to the military, Johnson-Brown prioritized her education and pursued advanced degrees. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Villanova University in 1959, followed by a master’s in teaching from Columbia University in 1963. Later, she earned a doctorate in educational administration from Catholic University in 1978.
Hazel Johnson-Brown’s remarkable accomplishments and dedication to her profession continue to resonate in the annals of history. As the first Black female general in the United States Army and the first Black chief of the United States Army Nurse Corps, her legacy serves as an inspiration for aspiring women in the military and the nursing profession. Her steadfast commitment to excellence and her unwavering pursuit of equality have made a lasting impact on society.
Awards:
– Army Commendation Medal
– Legion of Merit
– Meritorious Service Medal
– Army Nurse Corps Distinguished Service Medal
– Bronze Star Medal
– Defense Superior Service Medal