Julius W. Becton Jr., a three-star Army general who retired as one of the military's highest-ranking Black officers...died Nov. 28 at a retirement home in Fairfax County. He was 97.
After retiring from the Army as a lieutenant general in 1983, Gen. Becton led the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, supporting relief efforts for an earthquake that struck Mexico City and a famine that ravaged Ethiopia. He was tapped to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 1985, after his predecessor resigned amid allegations of fraud and mismanagement.
"He served as a mentor to those who followed in his distinguished footsteps," Colin Powell, the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, later said. "I was one of them and would never have risen without his example and help."
#Julius W. Becton Jr. #Army general #Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) #D.C. public schools #Black officer
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