1/16/96

Editors and photographers:

Representatives from the U.S. Postal Service will be at 66 Bentley Hall today (Thursday) at 3 p.m. to videotape an interview with History Professor Marvin Fletcher in conjunction with Black History Month in February and the issuance of a postage stamp honoring the first African American general in the U.S. military, Benjamin O. Davis Sr.

Fletcher is the author of the book America's First Black General, a biography of Davis, who served in the Spanish-American War and rose through the ranks from private to general. Fletcher interviewed Davis prior to his death. Davis is the father of Gen. Benjamin Davis Jr., commander of the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.

Photographers may photograph Fletcher during the videotaping and he will be available for interviews with reporters following the Postal Service interview.