Final answer:
The first black Marine officer to lead Marines into combat was Frederick C. Branch, who became a significant figure in breaking down racial barriers in the U.S. military.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first black Marine officer to lead Marines into combat was Frederick C. Branch. Frederick C. Branch broke racial barriers in the U.S. Marine Corps and became the first commissioned African American officer. His achievement was a significant step forward at a time when military units were still segregated, and black soldiers and officers had to contend with widespread discrimination within the armed forces.
Branch's accomplishment highlighted the broader efforts and struggles of African Americans in the military, particularly during the World War II era when segregation was the norm. Black military units like the Tuskegee Airmen and the 761st Tank Battalion played crucial roles in the war, and individuals like Branch helped to pave the way for desegregation and the eventual integration of the U.S. military. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Young, despite being the highest-ranking African American officer during World War I, faced systematic barriers that sought to end his military career prematurely, evidencing the deep-seated racial challenges that black officers had to overcome.