“We had the spirit of [the cavalry] and the spirit of airborne--you combine those two things, you become almost untouchable… at least we thought we were, anyhow.” (Video interview, 1:03:05)

Julius Wesley Becton, Jr.

Julius Becton at time of interview War: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Cold War Branch: Army Air Forces/Corps; Army; Army; Army Unit: 542nd Heavy Construction Company; 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Infantry Division; 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division; 1st Cavalry Division; VII Corps; K Company; L Company, 9th Infantry Regiment; 101st Airborne Division; US Army Operational Test and Evaluation Center Service Location: Philippines; Fort Benning Georgia; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; France; also: Korea; also: Vietnam; also: Fort Hood, Texas; Falls Church, Virginia; Germany Rank: Lieutenant General

The son of a janitor from Pennsylvania, Lieutenant General Julius Becton’s career in the Army spanned multiple decades, conflicts, and continents--as well as profound changes within the military itself. Commissioned as an officer in August 1945, he served with a racially segregated unit in Moratai and the Philippines; after the war, he went back to civilian life, only to return to the Army following desegregation of the military. Departing for Korea in 1950, he led troops through a number of harrowing situations and was wounded twice himself. He received further training and additional promotions during the interwar period, and in 1967, he deployed to Vietnam, where he served as commander of a cavalry squadron of the 101st Airborne Division. Throughout his distinguished career--he reached the rank of Lieutenant General in 1978, and retired from the Army in 1983--he stayed true to his guiding philosophy of integrity above all.