"John Hanks Alexander" [January 6,1864-March 26,1894]

Was the second African-American graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, following Henry Ossian Flipper.
He was the son of James Milo Alexander & Fannie Miller Alexander,both of whom were born slaves.
Supported and protected by prominent white families in Helena (Phillips County),John's daddy prospered as a barber and dealer in
toiletries,acquired property,and purchased his own freedom,as well as that of most of his family.John's parents were determined that their seven children would be educated.All seven graduated from high school,and three attended Oberlin College in Ohio.
In 1879,John graduated from high school in Helena at the head of his class and,shortly thereafter taught for a term in Carrolton,Mississippi,in the Spring of 1880.In the fall of 1880,he traveled to Ohio's to visit an uncle,Nicholas Alexander,a well-known citizen of
Cinicinatti.While working at an assortment of odd jobs,he enrolled in Oberlin College in 1881,and at the end of his second year in college he
successfully passed the examination for admission to West Point.He received an appointment to the academy by Democratic Congressman George Washington Geddes of Ohio in 1883.
During his four years at West Point,John was popular with the corps and escaped some of the mistreatment experienced by previous African-American cadets.A striking handsome young man and a skilled boxer,he was and apt student who excelled in languages and mathematics.By the time of his graduation in 1887,he ranked thirty-second in a class that had decreased in size from 122 to sixty-four members.An academy official
described John as a "splendid scholar"who had achieved an enviable record.
On September 30,1887,Second Lieutenant Alexander reported to Fort Robinson,Nebraska,for duty
with the Ninth Cavalry,the famous buffalo soldiers.The Ninth Cavalry was an all African-American regiment command by white soldiers.John was the sole African-American officer in a command position.Transferred to Fort Washakie,Wyoming,in 1888,he had duties including garrison duties,fighting fires,escorting prisoners,from place to place,making a seven-day march across mountainous terrain in Fort Du Chese in Utah,supervising the building of a post sawmill
and telegraph line,and serving in court martial proceedings.On February 12,1894,Hank was detailed to Wilberforce University,an African-American school in Ohio,as professor of military science and tactics.He was stricken suddenly and died immediately from
what was diagnosed as the rupture of a large artery near the heart.John is buried in Xenia,Ohio,near Wilberforce University with military honors.
The Department of War,citing John as a "man of ability,attainment,honored him by giving installation at Newsport News,Virginia,the name of Camp Alexander in 1918.