African-Americans in the United States military before desegregation

This is a list of significant African Americans and African-American units in the United States military before July 26, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 eliminating segregation in the military:

19th century

• United States Colored Troops
  • 54th Massachusetts Regiment
    • William Harvey Carney
• African Americans in the Civil War
  • Decatur Dorsey
  • Christian Fleetwood
• Buffalo Soldiers
• Henry Ossian Flipper

20th century

• Buffalo Soldiers
• 93rd Infantry Division (Colored)
  • Harlem Hellfighters
  • 371st Regiment of Infantry, U.S.
    • Freddie Stowers
• Abraham Lincoln Brigade
  • Oliver Law
• 555th Parachute Infantry Company
• Tuskegee Airmen
  • Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
• Dorie Miller