<I>General Court-Martial Orders, No. 39</I>

United States Army, American, founded 1775 · June 17, 1882

Henry O. Flipper became the first black graduate of West Point in 1877 and served as a second lieutenant in the 10th Calvary regiment. When Flipper was arrested for embezzlement by Colonel William Rufus Shafter at Fort Davis in August 1881, it was largely believed to be a set up. Shafter called a court-martial in September despite the missing funds being repayed from a collection gathered by soldiers and the community. In December 1881, Flipper was found innocent of the embezzlement charge, but guilty of "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman." He was dismissed from the army, which was a much harsher sentence than white officers found guilty in prior instances of embezzlement. Flipper unsuccessfully contested the charges and attempted to regain his commission until his death in 1940.