Hazel Johnson-Brown
Encyclopedia
Hazel Winifred Johnson-Brown (October 10, 1927 – August 5, 2011) is a retired nurse and educator, who served with the U.S. Army from 1955-1983. In 1979 she became the first black female general in the United States Army and the first black chief of the Army Nurse Corps. She was also the Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing.
Hazel Johnson was born in 1927 in West Chester, Pennsylvania
, one of seven children. She grew up on her father’s farm in Chester County, near the town of Malvern. When she was twelve, she was inspired to become a nurse by a local white public heath nurse. Her application to the West Chester School of Nursing was rejected because she was black. She moved to New York City, and enrolled in the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing in 1947.
Johnson-Brown joined the Army in 1955, shortly after President Harry Truman
banned segregation and discrimination in the armed services. She was a staff nurse in Japan and Chief nurse in Korea. "While in the Army, Gen. Johnson-Brown earned a master's degree in nursing education from Columbia University
and a doctorate in education administration from Catholic University of America."
Johnson-Brown was Assistant Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing from 1976 to 1978.
In 1979 she became the first black female general in the United States Army and the first black chief of the Army Nurse Corps.
She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Hazel Johnson was born in 1927 in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, one of seven children. She grew up on her father’s farm in Chester County, near the town of Malvern. When she was twelve, she was inspired to become a nurse by a local white public heath nurse. Her application to the West Chester School of Nursing was rejected because she was black. She moved to New York City, and enrolled in the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing in 1947.
Johnson-Brown joined the Army in 1955, shortly after President Harry Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
banned segregation and discrimination in the armed services. She was a staff nurse in Japan and Chief nurse in Korea. "While in the Army, Gen. Johnson-Brown earned a master's degree in nursing education from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and a doctorate in education administration from Catholic University of America."
Johnson-Brown was Assistant Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing from 1976 to 1978.
In 1979 she became the first black female general in the United States Army and the first black chief of the Army Nurse Corps.
She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.