N E W S L E TT E R. 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry

Transcription

1 The Buffalo Soldier From the Editors Desk: Greetings Troopers and Friends. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. We are praying for all of our members and wishing you good health, strength, and peace throughout the year. I hope this year will bring in new members and new associates that are willing to preserve the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers. We have experienced gains and losses in our ranks but we are still a strong organization We can and We will succeed in this years endeavors. Looking forward to seeing many of you in Denver, CO. Ready and Forward Trooper Don L Johnson Volume I1, Issue 23 IN MEMORY OF A TRUE TRAILBLAZER Do you know a WWII Black Military Woman? If not, you should, they served too. Meet the late WII Veteran Mrs. Essie O'Bryant Woods , she served as a Staff Sergeant in the famous first all Black Female Battalion, 6888 Central Postal Battalion led by the famous MAJ Charity Adams-Ender (The first black military woman commissioned in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp (WAAC). Mrs Essie passed away on December 25, She was a few days short of turning 98. She served as one of the founders and mothers of the NABMW. She served on the Organization Structure Committee and was the first Chairperson of the NABMW North-Central Region. Mrs. Essie believed in our motto "To Tell Herstory". We all miss her and will certainly keep her vision alive by telling our stories. Excerpted from web site of : The National Association of Black Military Women (formerly known as Black WAAC, WAC, Women in Service) Trooper Spotlight: Trooper Master Sgt. (Ret) John J. Nichols Editor s Desk..pg 1 Women Trailblazers WWI.. pg 1 Founders Bio.....pg 1 President s Message pg 2 Fiddler s Green....pg 3 Event Attended pg 3 Order for Badges.....pg 3 Founders Bio......pg 4 DC Chapter Activities....pg 5 Member Registration..... pg 6-8 Don L. Johnson 8275 Jennifer Lane Seminole, FL

2 Volume I1, Issue 23 Page 2 Greetings To All Troopers, Ladies Auxiliary, Family and Friends, I hope that everyone is well and enjoying a great summer. I know this is an extremely busy time for all the Chapters based on the high number of events taking place. Thank you for continuing the important work you do to keep the history and legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in the forefront. Congratulations to all the recent graduates within the Association family. We wish you good luck in all your future endeavors and know that we have high expectations for you. I want to thank all the committees who have been working hard over the past year on projects within the Association. Your hard work is invaluable towards meeting our goals and objectives. We are making progress every single day. I want to express my deepest appreciation to those Chapters that I have visited over the past year for the warm hospitality extended to me. We are looking forward to seeing all of you at the 148 th Anniversary Reunion. The Denver Chapter has a very special reunion planned and are eagerly awaiting our arrival. We have some real important items to discuss and consider during our business sessions. So look forward to a little work, a lot of fun and a lot of fellowship! Finally, please keep our Association family members in your thoughts and prayers who are experiencing health issues or who have suffered the loss of a family member. Have a safe summer and see you in Denver! Yours in Service, Willie Edley Jr. National President

3 April- June 2014 Volume I1, Issue 23 Page 3 Troopers Transferred To Fiddler s Green Since Last Reunion You are urged to report the death of a member, family member and Ladies Auxiliary to the National President, National Chaplin and National 2nd Vice President for dissemination to the membership. When a cavalrymen dies he begins a long march to his ultimate destination. About half-way along the road he enters a broad meadow dotted with trees and crossed by many streams, known as Fiddler s Green. As he crosses The Green he finds an old canteen, a single spur, and a carbine sling. Continuing on the road he comes to a field camp where he finds all the troopers who have gone before him, with their campfires, tents and pickets lines neatly laid out. All other branches of the military must continue to march without pause. Cavalry though are authorized to dismount, unsaddle and stay in Fiddler s Green...their canteens ever full...the grass always green and enjoy the companionship and reminisce with old friends. * Trooper Reginald Commodore Greater Twin Cities, MN *Trooper Jerome Scott Woods and Wanton,FL * Trooper Guy Tinner Washington, DC * Clarence Becnell Jr. - Son of Trooper Clarence Becnell, Sr. * Kent McKoy - Brother of Trooper Kevin McKoy * Patricia D. Hooper - Sister of Trooper Mary Brown * Enita Kennedy - Sister-In-Law of Trooper James Cooper, Los Angeles CA. * Jason T. Wilkes - Son of Trooper Phil V. Wilkes Fixico, Los Angeles CA. *Herb Jefferies, The Bronze Buckaroo, noted for movie, Harlem Rides The Range and singer with Duke Ellington. Our only Black Singing Cowboy, Inducted into the Denver Black Cowboy Museum, Oklahoma City Cowboy Heritage Museum, and The Gene Autry Heritage of The West Museum. Military Ball Attended By National President The Woods and Wanton Chapter hosted their 15th Annual Military Ball in June 2014, and the National President Willie Edley and Alabama founding president Bruce Mitchell attended. Mrs. Teresa Wilson was crowned Queen for Trooper Edley is pictured with Troopers Don & Bettye Johnson and guests Dolores McIntosh and Gene Black. Trooper s Lonnie Reddick and Don Johnson presented the Meritorious award to Mrs. Doris Ross Reddick. Association Name Badge Order Form Chapter Name: Trooper s Name (please print) Total Name Badges: x $30.00 ea. Number of Badges Total Cost: Please make check payable to: Association ( Mail payments by June 1, 2014 to) Trooper Kevin McKoy 223 E. 24th Street Indianapolis, IN (623)

4 Volume I1, Issue 23 Page 4 Buffalo Soldier's Story Master Sgt. John Joseph Nichols served as a Buffalo Soldier during World War II. In addition to his military background, Nichols is an artist and is shown here with one of his sketches. Adorned in the dress uniform of his day, Master Sgt. John Joseph Nichols steps into a room, passionately marching through the trials, triumphs and courage of the Buffalo Soldier. He knows firsthand of their struggles because he was one. Born in Colorado Springs, Colo., this soldier's journey began as a 17-year-old army recruit in Nichols served during World War II, carrying on the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers before him. The Buffalo Soldiers date back to 1866 when a congressional act authorized the formation of six African-American U.S. Army regiments. Members came from every walk of life, representing former slaves, freedmen and Civil War veterans. They were named Buffalo Soldiers by Cheyenne warriors out of respect for the soldiers' tenacious fighting skills and because of their curly hair, which reminded the Native Americans of a buffalo's thick outer coat. The Buffalo Soldier regiments were some 80 years old when Nichols joined their ranks. After basic training he served in the 10 th Cavalry and shortly was sent to clerical school; then was assigned as a cadre to the 28th Cavalry, Troop "C." The cavalry had horses which were wild mustangs broken by the remount squad, while the infantry were foot soldiers. "[With] the infantry you had to learn how to drill and shoot in four different battle formations. In the cavalry, one had to learn that, plus you had to learn the mounted tactics. The cavalry had distinctive uniforms which included boots, britches, spurs, sabers, pistols, and campaign hats " explained Nichols. "My horse knew all the commands," continued Nichols, who grew up with horses. "I loved that animal because you were taught he was your best friend. If anything happened to that horse, you carried the equipment. The horse got first attention, then your equipment, then you. My horse was beautiful." Even though they were highly trained and combat ready, the Buffalo Soldiers were often sent to support units that typically did not see combat, said Nichols. "They would not send us [into battle]," he said, adding that the black units were told they were not qualified for warfare. So in 1944 he joined the 92nd Infantry and got an opportunity to participate in combat against the Germans and Italians. Nichols waved his hand, and in a low and excited tone, sang the Buffalo Soldier regimental song: "High ho, ready to go, off to go to battle with horse and hand. High ho, ready to go, all we want is the right command. Ride, ride, giddy up, ride, ride, giddy up, and with horse and gun and shot and shell, we'll chase the enemy straight to hell. Oh, we're bound to be a good cavalry; we're taking our horse on clover. High ho, ready to go." Still, there were a couple of high points in Nichols' Buffalo Soldier career, including none other than Joe Louis, the heavyweight champion boxer, and Jackie Robinson, the first black professional baseball player to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers. "Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson were both Buffalo Soldiers," exclaimed Nichols. Cpl. Joe Louis Barrow was Nichols' squad leader, and Cpl. Jackie Robinson served with Nichols. "Joe Louis came in wearing gabardines [dress trousers]. Enlisted men could not think about wearing gabardines, but Joe Louis did," recalled Nichols with a broad smile. "That is what ticks me off. Not only are most unaware Robinson or Louis were Buffalo Soldiers, many don't know the Buffalo Soldiers ever existed," said Nichols. Consequently, the Buffalo Soldier became known as the forgotten soldier. Nichols has made it a priority to educate everyone about the life of the Buffalo Soldier, including serving as the featured speaker for a program by the Chesterfield Historical Society later this week. While the Buffalo Soldiers were African American, their officers remained mostly white. "They would not assign a black officer to be over us in the field. The black officers we had were either medical or chaplains." Besides that, "white soldiers did not have to salute black officers, and I deeply resented it," he said. Race limited educational opportunities, too. "You could go to horse school, but you could not go to veterinarian school. They had the whites assigned to do that," said Nichols. "We trained doubly hard to prove ourselves. It was considered a disgrace to go to the dispensary for medical aid unless you were bleeding. In fact, I think we had two troopers that died because they did not go to the hospital." After the war, Nichols continued his career in the Army and took various assignments, including one with the 6487th Heavy Engineer Construction Battalion in Italy. "When the cavalry troops came to attention it sounded like a clap of thunder because you had to slap those spurs together - bam! - and you better not be late," said Nichols. Nichols retired from the military in 1964 and returned to Europe where he remained for 20 years. He and his wife currently live in Chester, Virginia. By Jennifer M. Drummond

5 Volume I1, Issue 23 Page 5 Greater Washington DC Chapter Activities The ladies in period dress are members of the Baltimore Chapter and the three troopers in period uniform are from the Greater Washington DC, Petersburg and Baltimore Chapters respectively. Troopers with the Commanding Officer and Deputy Commander of Fort Myer, Virginia for the Joint Base Myer Henderson, Fort Myer, Virginia, Retirement Appreciation Day, October 11, Troopers Moody, Crawford and Hill with U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel (XO) John John Orille and U.S. Army Colonel Fern O. Sumpter (CO). Troopers at the Fort Meade, Maryland Retirement Appreciation Day, November 1, We were joined by Trooper Houston Wedlock of the Baltimore Chapter. Our Troopers are Troopers Crawford, Moody and Hill. Greater Washington DC Chapter 2014 National Memorial Day Parade, pictures 1 and 2 show our Troopers with the Rough Riders of Tampa, Florida just before the parade and picture 3 captures our Troopers rolling down Constitution Avenue.

6 Volume I1, Issue 23 Page 6

7 Volume I1, Issue 23 Page 7

8 Volume I1, Issue 23 Page 8