Dennis L. Via isn’t exactly a man short on words. Sitting inside a hotel situated less than a mile from the Pentagon, the four-star general seems to relish in the opportunity to share his story.
Indeed, his is a story of triumph and perseverance. It’s a journey that took this working-class young Black man from Martinsville, Va., to a historically Black university where he would eventually decide to enlist in the U.S. Army and go on to carve out a distinguished career.
Decades later, he is one of the highest-ranking African-Americans in U.S. military history.
But for Via, he learned the importance of discipline and values long before he became a soldier.
Now, he travels the country sharing his experiences with youth, hoping to inspire the next generation to commit themselves to a life of public service.
Tight-knit community
Born in 1958, Via was among the first group of Black students who would integrate his eighth-grade class in a community known for its bustling textile mills and furniture companies.
