Eclipse Magazine - Produced by NABVETS 2015 First Edition | Page 15

Pictured above (Left to Right): Robert Guye, Commander NABVETS-Baltimore; MG Linda Singh, Adjutant, Maryland; Rick Lane and Clarence “Tiger” Davis.

treated equally and fairly. Soon, Davis called for a meeting
of aggrieved guardsmen at the Cade Armory, named after
Colonel Melvin Cade, an extraordinary soldier who led the
all-Black 231st Transportation Truck Company during the
Korean War. BG General George Brooks, now deceased,
and CSM Wilson Thornton began to meet with Davis and
provide advice on protocol and strategy. The meeting went
well although African-American guardsmen were reluctant
to speak out with their superiors present. Nevertheless,
the point was made and twenty-nine years later, MG Linda
Singh assumed command of the Maryland National Guard
from MG James Adkins, who had been her primary mentor
and advocate.

unprecedented move which even raised questions from
Davis. Next, MG Adkins promoted Linda Singh to BG and
appointed her as Assistant Adjutant General for the Army
National Guard, who has since been promoted to Maryland
National Guard Adjutant General . When questioned by
Davis, Adkins let him know that Singh was extremely qualified
and responded, “It is the right thing to do.”

Along the way, several African Americans were promoted
to Brigadier General—two of whom are associated with
NABVETS—BG Thomas Johnson and BG Edward Ballard.
Steady progress under MG Fretterd was interrupted after
his forced retirement after a four-year stint, 2003 – 2007;
however, his protégé, BG James Adkins, who became
Adjutant General in 2008, resumed the march to equal
and fair treatment for all. First, he promoted Allyson
Solomon, a black female, to BG and appointed her as his
Assistant Adjutant General for the Air National Guard, an

Indeed, Black History Month 2015 in Maryland was
monumental and a demonstration of “real possibilities”
when diverse people of good intentions come together in
understanding and utilize patience and good will to prevail.
As we have always stated, Black History Month is about
American History and participants in progress are not
always black in hue. NABVETS is proud to recognize the
extraordinary contributions of MG Fretterd, MG Adkins and
others who steadfastly sought to eradicate racial bias in the
Maryland National Guard.

NABVETS Eclipse Magazine 2015 First Edition

MG Adkins had surpassed even the goals set by NABVETS
and others seeking change within the Guard. In 2013, Adkins
had received the Jeffries Carey National Achievement Award
at the 14th Annual Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Banquet hosted
by the Baltimore Chapter of NABVETS.

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