Benjamin O. Davis Sr.: The First Black to Achieve Star Rank in the Army Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black On Oct. 25, 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black to hold star rank in the U.S. Army and in the armed forces in 1940. (U.S. Army photo) On Oct. 25, 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black to hold star rank in the U.S. Army and in the armed forces. He was promoted to brigadier general, temporary -- a situation with which he was all too familiar, as his promotions to major, lieutenant colonel and colonel all had originally been "temporary." Such was the situation for black officers in Davis' day -- all two or three of them.