Fred A. Gorden

{{short description|United States Army general}}

{{Infobox military person

|name=Fred A. Gorden

|image=Gorden-DA-SC-94-01987.jpeg

|image_size=250

|alt=

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|birth_date={{birth date and age|1940|2|22}}

|birth_place=Anniston, Alabama U.S.

|death_date=

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|allegiance= United States

|branch= United States Army

|serviceyears= 1962–1996

|rank= Major General

|servicenumber=

|unit=

|commands= Army Military District of Washington
25th Infantry Division
Commandant of Cadets
Division Artillery, 7th Infantry Division

|battles= Vietnam War

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}}

Fred Augustus Gorden (born February 22, 1940) is a retired major general in the United States Army.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zqRPfg2-KCEC&pg=PA641 |title=Army Executive Biographies |chapter=Brigadier General Fred Augustus Gorden |page=641 |date=1985 |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |access-date=2021-06-05}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QF9grMa_84YC&q=Fred+A.+Gorden+1940&pg=PA104|title = African Americans in the Military|isbn = 9781438107752|last1 = Reef|first1 = Catherine|date = 14 May 2014|pages=104–105| publisher=Infobase }} He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1962 and was the first African-American to serve as Commandant of Cadets.{{cite web| url = https://www.army.mil/africanamericans/profiles/gorden.html| title = Maj. Gen. Fred Gorden was the first African American Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/gorden-general-fred-1940/|title = Fred Gorden (1940- ) •|date = 26 March 2014}} Gorden also earned an M.A. degree in Spanish language and literature from Middlebury College in 1969.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8HabECJ71A0C&pg=PA788 |title=Official Register of the Officers and Cadets |chapter=Class of 1962—Register of Graduates |date=1969 |page=788 |publisher=United States Military Academy |access-date=2021-06-05}}

Promoted to colonel on August 7, 1980, Gorden served as commander of Division Artillery, 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord. Promoted to brigadier general on October 1, 1985, he served as assistant commander of the 7th Infantry Division and then as the 61st Commandant of Cadets at the Military Academy. As a major general, Gorden assumed command of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in January 1990. He served as commander of the Army Military District of Washington from May 20, 1993, to August 29, 1995. His final assignment was as chief of public affairs for the Department of the Army. Gorden retired from active duty effective October 1, 1996.

His honors include the Legion of Merit, two Army Distinguished Service Medals and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.{{cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/143433 |title=Fred Augustus Gorden |website=Military Times |publisher=Sightline Media Group |access-date=2021-06-05}}