North Carolina's Newest General
Friday, November 21 2008
by Jessica Jones
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photo courtesy NC National Guard
The first African-American appointed to a General Officer position in this state's Army National Guard will become a Brigadier General today. James Gorham is a Vice President at First Citizens Bank in Kernersville. But he began his military career as an enlisted soldier back in 1974. Gorham says he joined the Guard in 1980.
"I didn't think when I came in as a private that I would ever become a general. But once I did become an officer, it was something that I always aspired to do, to serve this great country of ours, in that capacity."
Gorham deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005. He has served in leadership positions at every level in the National Guard. There are more than 12 thousand National Guardsmen and women in North Carolina, and there are only six brigadier generals, including Gorham.
