2 Quotes & Sayings By Roy J Mathew
Roy J. Mathew is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, the first African American to become a medical doctor, and the first black to graduate from Yale University's School of Medicine. A native of North Carolina, he was accepted into the Army Medical Corps in 1942, assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, and deployed during World War II
During his military career, he had five combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne Division in Italy, France, and Germany. He completed his medical studies at Howard University College of Medicine and received his M.D. degree in 1946.
After completing his military service, he joined the faculty at Howard University College of Medicine as an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. He went on to become the first black president of Howard University College of Medicine in 1957 where he remained until 1961 when he was appointed assistant surgeon general for medical services for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In 1963, President John F.
Kennedy appointed Dr. Mathew as director of HHS's National Institute for Medical Defense (NIMD) and director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Special Weapons and Tactics Program (SWAT). He served as NIMD director for three years before retiring from federal service in 1968 as a colonel in the U.S.
Army Reserve with 32 years' active military service. While serving as director of NIMD and SWAT, Dr. Mathew was instrumental in developing the concept behind Operation Rolling Thunder—the U.S.-led bombing campaign against North Vietnam that lasted until 1973—and bringing that concept into practice through strategic planning and tactical execution during Operation Arc Light—a series of night raids conducted by specially trained units against Viet Cong guerrilla bases located inside Cambodia between 1969 and 1970.