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Retired Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, who made history twice as the first African-American aviator in the Marine Corps and then as the Corps' first African-American general, has died at 83, the Marines' announced.

Petersen, who flew more than 350 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, died Tuesday at his home in Stevensville, Maryland, of complications from lung cancer.

When he retired as a lieutenant general in 1988, Petersen was the senior ranking aviator in both the Marines and the Navy — with which he served before joining the Marine Corps — and simultaneously held the honorary titles of Silver Hawk and Grey Eagle.

more @
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/frank-petersen-marines-first-black-aviator-general-dies-83-n417466

I saw him a few times when I was stationed in Japan in the navy. I think he was a Brigadier General at the time. I had no idea about his "firsts".