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The West Point Center for Oral History
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    • USMA Leaders Through History
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    • Honor And Integrity
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In the Shadow of the Civil Rights Era: One Cadet's Story of Promoting Equality at West Point

Percy Squire

Description

Percy Squire graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1972 as an Infantry Officer, but he quickly shifted his focus and began taking steps to earn his Law Degree. Currently, he practices Law in Columbus, Ohio. In this interview, Mr. Squire talks about his time as a cadet, his tenure as the President of the Contemporary Affairs Seminar (CAS), and his role in several initiatives related to improving race relations at West Point. Among the most noteworthy of these efforts was organizing the 1972 "Concert for the Blood" benefit held at Michie Stadium in support of Sickle Cell Anemia research. The concert drew such luminaries as The Supremes and Stevie Wonder. Mr. Squire went on to serve as an Infantry officer at Fort Campbell, KY and in the Republic of Korea before leaving the Army to pursue a law degree at The Ohio State University and a subsequent legal career in Columbus, OH. His recollections of a tumultuous time in the nation's history serve as an excellent reminder of the progress we have made as a nation, and also the progress that remains to be achieved.

Video Details Interview Date:5-Apr-16
Interviewer:Rick Black
Class Year:
  • 1972
Biographical Details Name:Percy Squire
Branch:Infantry
Unit:1/502 IN, 1/32 IN
Institution:USMA
Graduation Year:1972
Service Start:1972
Service End:1993
Specialty:Lawyer
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