Born in Sadieville on Oct. 8, 1915, Robert H. Brooks was an African American who entered an all-white National Guard unit before World War II began. Serving as a private in Co. D, 192nd Tank Battalion, he was stationed in the Philippine Islands. Brooks was killed on Dec. 8, 1941, during the initial Japanese bombing of Clark Field near Fort Stotensburg. At age 26, he was officially declared the first U.S. Armored Forces casualty of World War II. He is buried in the American-Manila Cemetery in the Philippine Islands, and the main parade ground at Fort Knox was named Brooks Field in his honor on December 23, 1941.