Henry Ossian Flipper: Breakthrough on Malaria Outbreak
Henry Ossian Flipper was born into slavery in Thomasville, Georgia, on March 21, 1856. In 1873, he was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and would go on to become West Point’s first African-American graduate as well as being commissioned as the Second-in-Command Lieutenant of the U.S. Army (U.S. House of Representatives). Later, he was transferred to the 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment; he became the highest ranking and most well-acclaimed out of all the Buffalo Soldiers—African-Americans who fought in and contributed greatly to Indian Wars—and this act marked the first inclusion of African-American men in the U.S. Army (Dailey). The role he took on as a Buffalo Soldier is when he really began breaking racial barriers in the military scene during the 19th century America, as he became the first officer of color to lead Buffalo Soldiers into battle.
Continuing to heavily impact the U.S army, Flipper “served as a signal officer and quartermaster, fought Apaches, installed telegraph lines, and supervised the building of roads” (U.S. House of Representatives). However, his greatest contribution to America was at Fort Sill, where he designed and directed the construction of a drainage system that significantly played a role in the prevention of the spreading of malaria (U.S. House of Representatives), a deadly disease that was rampant throughout the country during the 19th century. To illustrate the health crisis many faced during this time, malaria was extremely common within the United States at that time, over 1 million malaria death cases were reported during the time of the Civil War alone. Flipper’s drainage system, now known as Flipper’s Ditch in his honor, helped to save the lives of many Americans, and the country has been free the disease since 1951 (Urban). It is important to note that malaria still kills over 1 million people each year, however the countries plagued with the disease are mainly African regions, regions that have a poor drainage system in many, but not all, areas. If is was not for Flipper’s Ditch, America could have shared a similar fate, and may not have been free of malaria as early as 1951.
Henry Ossian Flipper was born into slavery in Thomasville, Georgia, on March 21, 1856. In 1873, he was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and would go on to become West Point’s first African-American graduate as well as being commissioned as the Second-in-Command Lieutenant of the U.S. Army (U.S. House of Representatives). Later, he was transferred to the 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment; he became the highest ranking and most well-acclaimed out of all the Buffalo Soldiers—African-Americans who fought in and contributed greatly to Indian Wars—and this act marked the first inclusion of African-American men in the U.S. Army (Dailey). The role he took on as a Buffalo Soldier is when he really began breaking racial barriers in the military scene during the 19th century America, as he became the first officer of color to lead Buffalo Soldiers into battle.
Continuing to heavily impact the U.S army, Flipper “served as a signal officer and quartermaster, fought Apaches, installed telegraph lines, and supervised the building of roads” (U.S. House of Representatives). However, his greatest contribution to America was at Fort Sill, where he designed and directed the construction of a drainage system that significantly played a role in the prevention of the spreading of malaria (U.S. House of Representatives), a deadly disease that was rampant throughout the country during the 19th century. To illustrate the health crisis many faced during this time, malaria was extremely common within the United States at that time, over 1 million malaria death cases were reported during the time of the Civil War alone. Flipper’s drainage system, now known as Flipper’s Ditch in his honor, helped to save the lives of many Americans, and the country has been free the disease since 1951 (Urban). It is important to note that malaria still kills over 1 million people each year, however the countries plagued with the disease are mainly African regions, regions that have a poor drainage system in many, but not all, areas. If is was not for Flipper’s Ditch, America could have shared a similar fate, and may not have been free of malaria as early as 1951.
"It ain't the roads we take; it's what's inside of us that make us turn out the way we do." - Henry Ossian Flipper
Works Cited:
“Regimental Week serves as Unit Homecoming.” U.S. Army, Reymond Ramos, 2015. https://www.army.mil/article/158532/regimental_
week_serves_as_unit_homecoming.
“The Valiant and Brave: The Buffalo Soldiers overcame adversity during their distinguished history on the Southern Plains.” True West, Johnny D. Boggs, 2015. https://truewestmagazine.com/the-valiant-and-brave/.
“US Malaria Deaths, 1870.” The Scientist, Lauren Urban, 2010. https://www.the-scientist.com/uncategorized/us-malaria-deaths-1870-43285.
Images Cited:
“Fipper’s Ditch—Fort Still—Oklahoma.” Waymarking, Waymarking Editors, 2009. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7PQ8
_Flippers_Ditch_Fort_Sill_Oklahoma.
“Henry Ossian Flipper USMA 1877.” Thayer Hotel, Daniel E. Rice, 2011. https://www.thethayerhotel.com/flipper.html.
“Lt. Henry O Flipper.” National Archives, U.S. House of Representatives National Archives and Records Administration Editors, 2017. https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/henry-flipper#page-header.
“Regimental Week serves as Unit Homecoming.” U.S. Army, Reymond Ramos, 2015. https://www.army.mil/article/158532/regimental_
week_serves_as_unit_homecoming.
“The 1890 Census Disease Maps.” Brianaltonenmph, Brian Altonen. Accessed Nov. 24, 2018. https://brianaltonenmph.com/gis/more-historical-disease-maps/1890-the-1890-census-disease-maps/.
Videos Cited:
"Who is Henry Ossian Flipper?" Youtube, uploaded by Westpoint-The U.S. Military Academy, 9 Feb. 2017, https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=KiNrJkNBq5E