Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first African American US Army brigadier general.
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The US Navy commissioned USS Nautilus, which became the world’s first nuclear submarine.
US Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager became the first-ever person to break the speed of sound, flying the Bell X-1 at 662 miles per hour.
The US army enlisted its first female colonel, Julia Flikke.
The USS Indianapolis vessel was torpedoed and sunk.
The US Defense Secretary announced that the US Military would open all combat roles to women.
