Conjee Rustomjee Couhujee Bey was among the earliest documented people of Indian origin to serve in the United States military. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy under the name Antonio Gomez, he served for two years during the American Civil War. His service established an early record of Indian participation in the nation’s armed forces during one of its defining conflicts. Upon his death, he was buried with full military honors at the Presidio in San Francisco, where his grave remains a testament to the long history of the Indian diaspora in American military service.
