Arlington National Cemetery

Medgar Evers was known as a relentless advocate and martyr for justice in Mississippi. He was born on July 2, 1925, and was drafted to the US army in 1943. He served till the end of the war and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. African Americans were assigned to only non-combat roles in the Army at that time. Given that, Medgar mainly spent his time in the Army supplying for Allied forces. He earned two bronze stars and a Good Conduct Medal. When he was in France he was treated equally, he was not profiled by his race. This gave him hope that when he came back home he could advocate for a world where people lived peacefully, and equally among races. He later attended Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College where he met his soon to be wife Myrlie Beasley. They moved to Jackson Mississippi, where he took a job as an insurance salesman. As they settled in he joined both the NAACP, and the Reginal Council of Negro Leadership. When he tried to get into the law school at Mississippi and was denied he made his efforts pay off in 1962. A black man named James Meredith was finally allowed to go to the University of Mississippi law school. There were many attempts to kill Medgar because he was a known civil rights advocate in the town. One day when he was heading up his steps coming home, he got shot in the back by a white supremacist named Bryon De La Beckwith. When he was shot he was carrying shirts that read, “Jim Crow Must Go!” His death spread much awareness and led to many votes contributing to the Civil Rights Law later being passed. His family also followed in his advocacy footsteps and did not rest till justice was served. 

Medgar Evers, a fearless civil rights activist, passed away at the age of 37, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering dedication to justice and equality. Born on July 2, 1925, in Decatur, Mississippi, Evers' life was marked by a relentless pursuit of equality for African Americans in the United States. Evers' journey to activism was shaped by his experiences in World War II, where he served with valor in the segregated U.S. Army. His wartime service provided a firsthand encounter with the hypocrisy of fighting against tyranny abroad while facing discrimination at home. Writers at the National WWII Museum write, “Evers’ battalion was likely charged with unloading weapons, supplies, and vehicles from Allied ships onto trucks that then transported them to the front lines via convoys such as the Red Ball Express”. Evers’ encounters with racism during his time in combat fueled his determination to dismantle racial barriers upon his return. As the inaugural field secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi, Evers orchestrated a myriad of initiatives to combat segregation and institutionalized racism. He fearlessly organized boycotts, voter registration drives, and protests, often at great personal risk. Evers' unwavering resolve in the face of threats and violence made him a symbol of defiance against oppression. Tragically, on June 12, 1963, Evers fell victim to an assassin's bullet in his own driveway, a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in the struggle for justice. His assassination ignited a firestorm of outrage and solidarity across the nation, propelling the civil rights movement forward. Evers' legacy endures as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come. His bravery, resilience, and sacrifice serve as a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and dignity for all. Though he may have departed this world, his spirit lives on in the hearts of those who continue to strive for a more just and equitable society.














MEDGAR W EVERS

Service

WORLD WAR II

US ARMY,

TEC 5

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us