Black
Soldiers
Another astounding fact is in excess of 180,000
African-Americans served in the Union Army during the Civil War, more than 33,000 of these
brave men died in that war. 23 African-Americans received the nation's highest military
award during the Civil War. I recently watched a rerun of the movie "Glory".
This movie was a moving recount of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry in 1862. This was a
regiment of colored soldiers in the Civil War led by a White Colonel named Robert Shaw; it
was the lst Northern African-American Regiment.
Many Black men volunteered for this regiment even though the country did not count them as
citizens. As I watched the movie I cried as I saw the "colored" soldiers of the
54th regiment. The pride depicted in being able to fight for their cause helped me to
realize even today we should honor those men. It took unimaginable courage to take a stand
and fight when some of those on their side did not think them capable of being good
soldiers.
In this movie, one symbol, which remains embedded in my mind, is the falling of the flag.
Everytime a soldier with the flag was killed and it dropped, another soldier picked it up
and charged forward. Each soldier with the same goal in mind, "banner yet
waved", just like each generation before and after them. The strength of each soldier
was their determination to forge ahead for freedom and equality for all mankind.
As I watched these men go to war, I did not see soldiers angry in disagreement of their
leaders but dedicated to what was theirs and what was good for all people. I wonder how
the soldiers were able to see, hear and smell death, and yet continue to go into battle.
To us ordinary civilians, it seems unimaginable. These men were also given the opportunity
to leave the army honorably versus being killed immediately upon capture because they were
a colored regiment, but they stayed. This was just one instance of their courage. The
story ends with the soldiers forging ahead, guns flaring, swords swinging, bodies flying
all around them, smoke at every direction, as they marched to their inevitable death.
Although they knew their death was certain, their courage was unmatched. When I think of
these soldiers I remember the Gettysburg Address delivered by President Lincoln after the
battle of Gettysburg, which we all know was a turning point in the Civil War. I'm sure we
all remember these words. "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on
this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all
men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that
nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great
battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final
resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. ...But, in
a larger sense we cannot dedicate-we cannot consecrate-we cannot hallow-this ground. The
brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated, far above our poor power
to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it
can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here
to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus for so nobly advanced. It is
rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these
honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full
measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of
the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
There are many other acts of bravery by African-American soldiers over the years. Private
George Watson in WW II in 1943 was in a ship that was attacked and began to sink. Watson
assisted several soldiers who could not swim to reach the safety of a life raft. This
weakened the private and he ultimately drowned when the suction of the sinking ship
dragged him under.
Again in WWII, Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers was severely wounded when his tank hit a mine. he
declined morphine for the pain and took command of another tank the next day. He spotted a
German antitank position and yelled, "I see 'em, We'll fight 'em." While
fighting, his tank was hit and he was killed, his crew members were wounded. My fellow
Americans this is the ultimate sacrifice. In WWII, we had the same dedication, our
soldiers fought for the same beliefs. On December 8, 1941, after the attack on Pearl
Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, delivered an address to the House of Representatives as he
asked Congress to declare war on the Japanese Empire.
Part of his speech states, "As Commander in Chief of the Army and navy, I have
directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character
of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this
premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might, will win through to
absolute victory. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our
interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces-with the unbounded
determination of our people-we will gain the inevitable triumph-so help us God."
Private Watson and Staff Sgt. Rivers were part of the brave armed forces to which FDR
characterized.
On February 12, 1973 when the first American Vietnam POW's (Black and White) were
released, these soldiers held their heads high. The highest-ranking POW, an Admiral was
asked to say a few things and one of his statements was giving thanks for the opportunity
to serve this great nation. Even after being a POW in a war we still question today, they
were proud to be American soldiers.
Courageous soldiers, we may take you for granted, but believe me, you are our heroes. The
love and honor we feel for you are beyond belief. You stand between us and dictatorship,
between us and tyranny, between us and persecution. Words do little to describe your
courage, skill, dedication, sacrifice and spirit. To the Buffalo Soldiers, to the Native
Americans, to the Colonial Militia, the Union Soldiers, WWI and WWII Veterans alive on
earth and eternally alive in heaven, Vietnam soldiers, Persian Gulf Veterans and Soldiers
of Operation Enduring Freedom and to the future soldiers, we say thank you.
Young African-Americans if it's a career in the military you choose, you follow the lead
of many, many great men and women. In a speech given by John F. Kennedy in 1961, he said
this to a Naval Academy commencement, ".. . you were not serving a government or an
administration but a people. In serving the American people, you represent the American
people and the best of ideals of this free society. Your posture and your performance will
provide many people far beyond our shores, who know very little about our country, the
only evidence they will ever see as to whether America is truly dedicated to the cause of
justice and freedom. What you have chosen to do for your country, by devoting your life to
the service of our country is the greatest contribution that any man could make."
As for tributes to Black soldiers, there have been some modern day tributes to the legacy
of the Buffalo soldiers. In 1992, Colin Powell, at the time chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, dedicated a memorial to the Buffalo Soldiers to honor their memory. To the
Buffalo Soldiers, your spirit lives on. I once read that the record of meritorious service
and notable accomplishments amassed by the Buffalo Soldier regiments remain a symbol of
hope and pride for all Americans. The achievement serves as a reminder of the
contributions they made to American life and culture.
I once read the following phrase and I am sure it strikes a cord with a great many of us,
"God and the soldier all men adore in time of trouble and no more, for when war is
over and all things righted, God is neglected and the old soldier slighted." It takes
not only courage, but also pride, determination, grit, substance, will and forbearance to
be a soldier. Thanks to all who have given their lives to freedom. Time and time again our
soldiers have shown that his nation will not be held under tyranny and persecution.
This nation will forever fight for freedom and justice. We all bear responsibility of
being American, but you bear the fight and the frightening horrors of battle for all of us
and to that we are eternally grateful and this nation will be forever in your debt.
I have pulled from the past when celebrating the Black Soldier and all soldiers, and in
the final analysis I have always and still believe that our history holds the key to our
future. Those that have come before us have left a legacy that should not be ignored. You
see, this nation was built on the intellect, bravery and will of our forefathers. By the
grace of God, they carved this country out of the wilderness and therefore we can learn
from them and make America better for those that will come after us, as did our ancestors.
Finally, let it be known that African Americans have fought in this country since the days
of the colonial militia. Remember African-American children and to all, Black soldiers
have long been part of the fight for freedom and the fight for the United States of
America and all it holds dear. |
