tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55687784863121484952024-02-19T02:07:26.481-08:00Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter - 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association - aka: Buffalo SoldiersThis Blog is dedicated to the men who served in the segregated regiments of the 9th and 10th Cavalries and 24th and 25th Infantries from 1866 to 1951.
The GLAAC newsletter "BUGLE CALL" is now archived at this blog. Look for post dated December 28, 2010 to find back issues of our newsletter.Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-85644249569078490292013-03-03T22:53:00.000-08:002013-03-04T08:53:49.010-08:00Trooper Ernest H. Collier, Fiddler's Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">April 1, 1922 - February 17, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">With a heavy heart and sincere sympathy, we honor,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><strong>Trooper Ernest “Sarge” Collier</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Fiddler’s Green</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 22px; letter-spacing: 0px;">W</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">hen a cavalryman dies, he mounts up and begins a long ride</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">to his ultimate destination. About half-way along the road</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">he enters a broad meadow dotted with trees</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">and crossed by many streams known as,“Fiddler’s Green.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As he enters “The Green” he finds an old canteen, a single spur,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">and a carbine sling. Continuing on the road he comes to a field camp</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">where he finds all the troopers who have gone before him</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">with their campfires, tents and picket lines neatly laid out.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">All other branches of the military must continue to march without</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> pause. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cavalrymen though are authorized to dismount, unsaddle and</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">stay in Fiddler’s Green, their canteens ever full, the grass always</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">green, and enjoy the companionship and reminisce with old friends.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Trooper Collier's Obituary</strong>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ernest Herman Collier was born on April 1, 1922 at Fort Stotsenberg in the Philippine Islands to William an Feliza DeLeon Santos Collier. The family moved to San diego in 1929, and Ernest was the oldest of ten siblings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He attended Stockton Elementary, Memorial Junior High, and San diego High School where he played football, ran track and was Co-Captain of the track team. During his time there he was active in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) as an officer. After graduating from San Diego High he attended Santa Ana Junior College and became a distance runner on the track team, he won many awards and trophies. Ernest was an assistant starter on the US Olympic team beginning in early 1979. He was on the training committee for San Diego Mesa Olympic Training Center and the official starter for California State track meets.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ernest, affectionately known as "Sarge", was a member of St. Rita's Catholic Church in San Diego, California. He was the first altar boy at Christ the King Catholic Church at an early age. Sarge participated in many church </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">functions, especially the Friday night Bingo games at St. Rita's and was an active member of the Knights of Peter Claver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ernest enlisted in the United States Army, where he was assigned to the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, known as the Buffalo Soldiers in 1942, and then trained at Fort riley, Kansas and fort Clark, texas for moderate combat duty. His medals and memberships earned over the years have been very impressive: the American Defense Service Medal, the European African Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Korea Victory Medal. He was seriously injured for the third time in the battle of Pusan, Korea; he was sent to the Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, California where he was awarded the Purple Heart by general Mark Clark. He received an honorable discharge in 1954. He is a life member of the Order of Purple Heart (MOPH) #49 and Disabled Veterans Chapter 2, member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, San Diego, the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association of San Diego and Los Angeles, the 1402 Army Engineers Association, the Infantry Association and a life member of the Marine Memorial Association.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sarge was a member of the San Diego Friends of Allensworth Chapter #12, where he served as an advisor. He was honored to have one of the original Buffalo Soldiers as part of the Governing body. As a volunteer at the Neighborhood House in Logan Heights, he taught sports and english language to non-english speaking children. He had a giving spirit, always willing to help the less fortunate. Sarge has given many donations to help the needy, or red the hungry, or whatever the need may be. Each year he donated turkeys to his church to make sure others had a blessed Thanksgiving. His donations were endless.</span></div>
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He had outstanding work ethics, need believed in wasting time when there was work to be done. After 22 years of service with the United States Federal Government Civil Service, Sarge retired from North Island, San Diego, California.</div>
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On February 17, 2013 Ernest "Sarge" Herman Collier departed from this life around 4:45 a.m. at the Veterans Hospital in La Jolla, California. He leaves his family to cherish his memory. His wife Juanita, nearly 60 years of marriage, daughters Michelle Hearns her husband rodney o Colorado Springs, CO, Evaughn Collier of Richmond, CA, son Michael Dean Collier of Detroit, MI, adopted son Troy Walker of San Diego, CA, sisters Birdie Baldwin of Los Angeles, CA, Mary Agnes Jackson, Adeline Alexander and brother Williams Collier all of Los Angeles, CA. A thanks to niece Julia Collier and Jennifer Henry, who took excellent care of Sarge and Juanita, fie grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, church family and a host of friends. His mother, father, two sisters Rachel Collier Tucker and Ophelia Collier and brother Simeon DeLeon Collier preceded Ernest in death. Sarge will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.</div>
Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-55107634359078948902012-01-26T22:16:00.000-08:002012-01-26T22:46:30.417-08:00Red Tails A formula for success.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>G</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">o see this movie! Red Tails is a fictionalized account of the difficulties and heroic achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen! The movie starts in 1944 with America embroiled in World War II in the Pacific and European Theaters. The focus of the story takes place at Ramitelli Airbase in Italy, home of the 332</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Palatino; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>nd</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Fighter Group, and follows the lives of a small group of young, but experienced pilots, with support from the ground crews whose job it is to keep the aircrafts flying.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There has been a lot of criticism made of George Lucas and his so called Hollywood formula predictive screenplay. Let me say this about formulas. A formula is a mathematical expression designed to produce the right answer. <b><i>E=mc</i></b></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Palatino; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><sup>2</sup></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> is a formula and its answer unlocked the secret of the atom and produced the most destructive weapon ever created by man. If someone tries to discourage you from seeing this movie and their argument is that some type of formula was used to develop the screenplay; just say "So what!" and go see it for yourself. Even though I was invited to the premiere in Los Angeles, I went to see the movie on its opening weekend, paid full price for my ticket, and I was glad I did. When you do go to see "Red Tails," take your kids with you. The characters in this film are not perfect, they have flaws, but the handicaps that they were able to overcome, in themselves and in the racist minds of society during that time... well, that's the stuff heroes are made of! “<i>COURAGE HAS NO COLOR</i>!” "Red Tails" is in theaters now, and is rated PG-13.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Trooper Ron Jones with co-star Marcus T. Paulk, who plays, David 'Deke' Watkins, one of the Tuskegee Airmen pilots.</span></span></div>
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</div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-4915135733694935252011-12-27T22:53:00.000-08:002012-01-02T18:38:40.009-08:00Yes Joshua, there still are Buffalo Soldier.<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZU5QDUYzOrfP3yVGIlgNaOsCFT9Tbnf0vd2h-RfLdAWestGI5Xzo32oczSLVyH8V2XBcatp4nEfU29SWs395jd1PlcanU5aRERQmiwrG-_jHJHJbuPwI9OYQ2AaA_JlYll2TPTA9kUzSQ/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691077533460995778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZU5QDUYzOrfP3yVGIlgNaOsCFT9Tbnf0vd2h-RfLdAWestGI5Xzo32oczSLVyH8V2XBcatp4nEfU29SWs395jd1PlcanU5aRERQmiwrG-_jHJHJbuPwI9OYQ2AaA_JlYll2TPTA9kUzSQ/s400/IMG_1057.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Palatino;"><span style="FONT: 180% Palatino; LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><b>T</b></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:large;">he following is a fictionalized account of an event that did not really take place. But then, isn’t that what fictionalize means? Anyway, because this is the holiday season, and after meeting the little trooper, Joshua Sims, I thought I would have some fun with an editorial by newsman, Francis Pharcellus Church. Mr. Church wrote a response to a letter from a little 8-year old girl named Virginia. His editorial was published in New York’s “The Sun” newspaper on September 21, 1897. It has become known as, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause,” and it is a reminder that the <i>Holiday Season</i> is truly a time for our children. So, without further adieu I give you:</span></span><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><b><i>“Yes, Joshua there still are Buffalo Soldiers.”</i></b></span></p><br /><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 19px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 14px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Dear Editor: I am a 3</span><span style="FONT: 7px 'Helvetica Light'; LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><sup>rd</sup></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"> grader at the C.L.A.S. Charter School. This past October I dressed as a Buffalo Soldier for our Fall Festival. All my little friends told me that there were no more Buffalo Soldiers. I asked my mother and she said, “If you read it in the BUGLE CALL it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, are there still Buffalo Soldiers?</span></span></em></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 13px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px 'Helvetica Light'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>Joshua Sims</em></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px 'Helvetica Light'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>Los Angeles, CA.</em></span></p><br /><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 13px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px 'Helvetica Light'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:180%;">Joshua, your little friends are wrong. They have been deprived by a lack of books, movies and programming that should be available to cover the rich history that is the Buffalo Soldiers. They have been affected by an institutionalized attempt to withhold the contributions of African Americans to the development, growth and protection of this great nation. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Joshua, whether they be man’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.</span></p><br /><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 13px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px 'Helvetica Light'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:180%;">Yes, Joshua, there still are Buffalo Soldiers. They exists as surely as devotion, unselfishness, generosity and love for this country exists, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How different would the world be if there never were any Buffalo Soldiers? If would be as different as if there never was a Joshua. There would be no childlike faith then, no childlike curiosity and infinite imagination to make tolerable this existence. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.</span></p><br /><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 13px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px 'Helvetica Light'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">Without the Buffalo Soldiers there would be no Tuskegee Airmen, no Montfort Point Marines and no Triple Nickel Parachute Unit; there would be no Navajo Code Talkers or 442</span><span style="FONT: 7px 'Helvetica Light'; LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><sup>nd</sup></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"> Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated regiment in the history of the United States armed forces and they were made up of Japanese Americans. Without the Buffalo Soldiers there would be no minorities or women in the military. The Buffalo Soldiers were the first minorities to serve in the regular peacetime military and they opened the door for all the minorities who came after them.</span></span></p><br /><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 13px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px 'Helvetica Light'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:180%;">Joshua, the number of original Buffalo Soldiers gets smaller everyday. They are the last of our World War II and Korean War veterans. But even after the last one of them has gone, the Buffalo Soldiers will continue to exist. They will exist because of you Joshua and children like you. When you dress-up as a Buffalo Soldier you are helping to keep their memory alive. When your friends ask you who were the Buffalo Soldiers, and you’re able to tell their story; you are helping to keep their legacy going. And when people are able to read the truth about the Buffalo Soldiers in the BUGLE CALL, I am helping to educate an uninformed populace about the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers and together Joshua, you and I will keep their memory alive.</span></p><br /><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 13px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 11px 'Helvetica Light'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px;font-size:180%;">Yes Joshua, because of you there will always be Buffalo Solders. </span></p></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-4412825583134920302011-02-26T10:16:00.000-08:002011-03-08T09:41:25.522-08:00FOR THE GOOD OF THE CORPS<div style="text-align: justify;">There is a saying in the military, "For the good of the corps." It has a lot of different interpretations. It could mean, you are being asked to put aside your own self interests and make a personal sacrifice for your unit or your command... and you would do it... <i>for the good of the corps. </i>You may get reassigned to a different location or a new duty responsibility that you didn't want or asked for, but you accept it... <i>for the good of the corps.</i> Sometimes, just sometimes; "For the good of the corps," means contributing a joke or a story that helps the morale of the unit.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I want to thank my cousin, Linda in Aruba, for bringing this gem to my attention.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On November 13, 2010 a Mass Choir inconspicuously gathered in a food court in Welland, Ontario and quietly settled down, with unsuspecting diners, for lunch. 31 million and counting, views later, this video is still a great example of how one group can inspire, move, motivate, and entertain another group with a smile and a simple act of kindness and charity. It reminds me of the song; "Reach out and touch, somebody's hand..."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By providing you the link to this video I have extended my hand to you. Now it's up to you to meet me half way.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=player_embedded">YouTube Flash Mob!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If you are having problems with the link above, just cut and paste this URL into your browser: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=player_embedded</span></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-2993981083169483762011-02-02T18:48:00.000-08:002011-02-14T19:42:31.493-08:00I SAW THE DREAM<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8H2FoSO-cvat_gviB9HdLEk3T1dAyPQPSXvnuC9FcM2-HkxYwh8psn9gW4FgyBudP1-kowki1bVwBjHa0-0SeEyTXrqXFSlPPK74UtpPEeChQ91CFzLaFUJniWDpnRLFF82ibM5SWnzf/s1600/DSCF8672.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569293102454662930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8H2FoSO-cvat_gviB9HdLEk3T1dAyPQPSXvnuC9FcM2-HkxYwh8psn9gW4FgyBudP1-kowki1bVwBjHa0-0SeEyTXrqXFSlPPK74UtpPEeChQ91CFzLaFUJniWDpnRLFF82ibM5SWnzf/s400/DSCF8672.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Buffalo Soldiers and Montford Point Marines were present to honor the </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">City Of Inglewood's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech contest winners.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The City of Inglewood 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration</span></b></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I have been photographed with true American Heroes, entertainers, superstar athletes and celebrities, but never have I felt more positive about our future and more honored to be seen with then I did when photographed with these young men and women; winners of the City of Inglewood's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech contest. Under the banner of "Believe, Achieve and Succeed,"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(32,32,32)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">these young people spoke about their dreams and they were funny, emotional, uplifting, inspiring, moving, touching and positive. If these young people represent our leaders of tomorrow, we are leaving things in good hands.</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I want to thank the City of Inglewood for inviting us to be a part of their 28th Annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(32,32,32)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Inglewood was one of the first cities in the nation to designate Dr. King's birthday a legal holiday. Congratulations Inglewood, the City of Champions.</span></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(32,32,32)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Lest we forget:</span></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(32,32,32)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(32,32,32);font-family:'times new roman';font-size:x-large;">I HAVE A DREAM</span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(32,32,32);font-family:'times new roman';font-size:x-large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(32,32,32);font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">By: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., August 28, 1963</span></span></p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity. But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition. In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, nad the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. we must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" we can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew our of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: Times; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"</p></span></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-9867940406168015792011-01-14T19:17:00.000-08:002011-02-03T10:31:21.305-08:00Disneyland Salutes American Heroes<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Trooper Bobby McDonald and I were honored to be included with other VIP guests who were invited to be present as Disneyland Resorts saluted two American Heroes; Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, and Silver Star recipient Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562255568436526850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 384px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbwqrmTL2x2bfMOWHwAC_jiEmqfolNRdcQltZl3zVb3fNjRx1RgjZLwWfEJKKylCBxpeFGrmoHSgX7sbuHrj2W6ugThAo_Z8ktGwGAGYsMTU2669GPLuZzntmovKAW1GJ_6jwssy7bGFM/s400/DSCF8658.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient,</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562254395586165858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 333px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDchyphenhyphenJqdYHTYQRvGYhfQcNtZLfetiraHnmL19n9aauMXhztT_nZhi0T8AcjcmzjR9aDJFoVGhyYrvAOSXGUgcdUped_dLMrRXtP6y-a2dr5AIfGFagxmcuevn8EDGgYwWOCaIVVyvuVPh/s400/DSCF8648.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Trooper Ron Jones with </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Silver Star Recipient Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562253180815857138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO-gC_EDSLNqL01Cy47_c3ajvRSWdu5yRNYTFZ-bOqh5lT_F2ERl5KZoAgWO4exiYKeZnuGx35OwV2VM-rf3L8QONNFiozd7FsochP4lWlhWG6_-k0ak90OSkxI_fuE1mD1HEobrleIBg/s400/DSCF8647.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Trooper Bobby McDonald with Silver Star Recipient</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Disneyland on Main Street U.S.A.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564846266307120786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcMd6JzE9fQvz5aneINzo0nGsvLfyXAx8mmIBjXBSK7wST6coIABQC3xe02u_bBEb_bLaWa2K1dLccCICy_ICxpOZdDY21PxcLVoEIIogE3zBV489NSKg-BBVDoqMwkVzADk7e3nUZ1iz/s400/DSCF8608.JPG" border="0" /></span></span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;">The Dapper Dan's perform at the ceremony honoring</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;">Staff Sgt.'s Gallardo and Giunta.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564846884015522754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIdR2LtgXiqYPC_yQ5hCiX8mxe5rgpxZ4yPdbDl4qTxtvzDx6gCPurzjs1R6phhJH87i5qQxaXcTsT9E3maC_eLDvcXiE-ziuvIjdklliLrZRPEQSAuuaSA3Owa3YUZQel5n7CBuO0jw6/s400/DSCF8618.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline">Disney Executive John Nicoletti, VP of Communications prepares to</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">present </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Staff Sgt. Gallardo and Staff Sgt. Giunta with special Mickey statues.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564847720138046626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_c34LYoBluIh2f4I9XCPpxrs3_3bh9SZeDhcOeR0dZhS1kzkc3HbAlNTrAJPR7dVs85_L_G-5Jlza00aiAZHVvFEi_JKcL5PMC-wxUYLycTSu9gFvh6RVPfvieT_r8AfXEGEUOH0LxdZ/s400/DSCF8633.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline">Staff Sgt. Giunta is presented with the American Flag.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564848246933750370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcogbZg_PoYilwm6e1tAoQZW8M4KP8MBjri8ZSc5xMY79OC3gUqFE7sOZpGgSt_k8IXRWDQSHwn3DfWSyELRJ6k1W3t821DP07r60dYurKCnoza9Vvfd_iE2am3WS0XYJyyty4Yd4bliB/s400/DSCF8635.JPG" border="0" /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564848764030770114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWy6d6hwpPfompL-XvN5GfT5pRrtvZVn4pvCNhH8cBd6ZkrXBUK_KRasa9QUBACtDp3KrO7pPkjBxW2E1dfk8OnbcTwqK_4j2QM9E4U3AVVgv6AKC-O10uaG-3ueE3oqKN4W1l7ROsJxtz/s400/DSCF8642.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline">Members of the Buffalo Soldiers, the U.S. Army and government</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">representatives were </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">present as special guests for the Disney program.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564845193620307954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 237px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSdw4hdYkWX6oUW7kwt1hbnvMUwB7OCOh-Re8APWUUckKNKgy4U8bWci_d7Pj9PNphoP7QgKEA-vtzLVKJqdGhUrIeMopt0w_nd3ukO6GxmRzCpENzRN6XfhPGPlqmEgS72oJmyWlbyHA/s400/DSCF8644.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">This is the "Saluting Mickey" presented to Medal of Honor Recipient</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)">Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-41318149686692112852010-12-28T16:44:00.000-08:002011-12-27T23:36:54.827-08:00BUGLE CALL - BUFFALO SOLDIER NEWSLETTERSOver the years I have tried to keep our members informed by periodically publishing a newsletter that I call, "BUGLE CALL." I didn't know what I was doing when I started and I still don't know what I'm doing, but I've always tried to do the best I could. That is all I can ask of myself.<br /><br />My blog gives me the opportunity to archive these newsletters and make them available to the world. They were produced for members of the Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter of the NINTH & TENTH (HORSE) CAVALRY ASSOCIATION and now we share them with you.<br /><br />Enjoy.<br /><br /><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/xa7b70">Newsletter APR 2004</a> <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/xa7b70"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/b2otm0">Newsletter JUN 2004</a> <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/07x6s9">Newsletter JUL 2004</a></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/07x6s9"></a><br /><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/3dfg7a">Newsletter AUG 2004</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/3dfg7a"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/9lny7j">Newsletter SEP 2004</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/9lny7j"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/875yg2">Newsletter OCT 2004</a><br /><br /><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/e8ccjy">Newsletter DEC 2004</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/e8ccjy"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/xohqc5">Newsletter MAR 2005</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/xohqc5"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/wfbnzz">Newsletter MAY 2005</a> <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/cfvsbu">Newsletter JUN 2005</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/cfvsbu"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/aq2zr0">Newsletter JAN 2006</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/aq2zr0"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/5anrxq">Newsletter MAR 2006</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/k6sgx8">Newsletter APR 2006</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/k6sgx8"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/dn8qic">Newsletter MAY 2006</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/dn8qic"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/xmt4zw">Newsletter JUL 2006</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/irvfcc">Newsletter JAN 2007</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/irvfcc"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/yn3n9t">Newsletter FEB 2007</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/yn3n9t"></a><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/hybekp">Newsletter APR 2007</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/ut4civ">Newsletter AUG 2007</a></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/onokt5">Newsletter NOV 2007</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/tz2l64">Newsletter JAN 2008</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/pp7gtg">Newsletter JUN 2008</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/mm6ui1">Newsletter JUL 2008</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/d08dc3">Newsletter AUG 2008</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/kbkbqf">Newsletter AUG 2009</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/femdh9">Newsletter SEP 2009</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/xhbp4i">Newsletter OCT 2009</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/11t6ja">BCCOC Special Edition</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://files.me.com/bik4lif/t9hvmd">Newsletter NOV 2011</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/bik4lif/ad3gft">Newsletter DEC 2011</a></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-30021474509040940452009-11-06T23:36:00.000-08:002009-11-06T23:49:31.021-08:00A House is not a Home<span><span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72284Ya81pzFI8z1wDoo3lE_LradwJyube1d5UuPY5NQ-K1B5wgqRGRPLAll2rpd-am_Y4ag54VOmZfRu3wP0l0gPlw_xuJQJ3o8iPwke1w8VBiQdysbpHGtbKwqRmYRnshFMI7PKcK-n/s1600-h/IMG_7314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72284Ya81pzFI8z1wDoo3lE_LradwJyube1d5UuPY5NQ-K1B5wgqRGRPLAll2rpd-am_Y4ag54VOmZfRu3wP0l0gPlw_xuJQJ3o8iPwke1w8VBiQdysbpHGtbKwqRmYRnshFMI7PKcK-n/s400/IMG_7314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401262908007151874" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 9.5px Palatino"><span style="font: 18.0px Palatino; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I</span></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">’ve stood at the entrance of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. It is an architectural wonder with beautiful statuary and priceless works of art. There are many altars within the cathedral adorned in gold and jewels. When I asked, “What is this place?” I was told, this is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God’s</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> house! As a child, I’ve camped alongside the King’s River and I’ve slept outdoors at the foot of a Giant Sequoia Redwood in Sequoia National Forest; looked up at the sky at night and saw more stars than I have ever seen in my entire life. When I asked, “What is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">this</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> place?” I was told, this is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">God’s</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> home!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 9.5px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">In God’s house there is a golden chalice, used for the consecration and distribution of sacramental wine and it is kept on an altar, but in God’s home I’ve stood on the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">snow-covered-rim</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> of Crater Lake and seen water so blue and so pure that I knew ...this is where God dips </span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">his</span></i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> cup.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 9.5px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This month your local PBS stations broadcasted a six part Ken Burns series titled: “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” The Buffalo Soldiers’ contributions to our National Parks were highlighted in the series and we are very thankful to Ken Burns for the recognition, but this series goes well beyond the contribution of any individual(s). There is a synergy to the efforts of the men and women highlighted in this series and it is their combined and sustained effort that has made our National Parks and the National Park Service what they are today.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 9.5px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">If you haven’t seen this series check with you local PBS station or request it. If you can afford it, buy it. You will be a better person for the experience. This series took me back to my youth, traveling to our National Monuments and camping in our National Parks. FYI, just one percent of the visitors to Yosemite National Park are Black. That’s a Fact!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 9.5px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes we have to step out of God’s house and into God’s home to realize the awesome responsibility we have, not just to our families, our church families and to each other, but to the land and the water and to this planet as a whole; for this isn’t just God’s home, it’s our home too!</span></span></p>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-86194687597566629702009-09-27T09:26:00.000-07:002009-09-28T08:17:11.493-07:00Fiddler's Green<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></b>ne of the greatest duties one military person can bestow on another is seeing to it that a fallen soldier is sent off to their final resting place in a very dignified and respectful way. This honor is made even more significant when it is a trooper who has come to the end of his journey.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It said that men of war will never make it through the gates of Heaven. But for those who have performed their duties very well there is a special place that is set aside just for them. For the men who served in the U. S. Calvary that place is Fiddler's Green!</div><div><br /></div><div>Traditionally the poem, Fiddler's Green, is read by a fellow trooper during the "home going" ceremony of a fallen comrade. So it is very understandable if the words seem to get stuck when it is time to say goodbye.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trooper Lennister Williams, with the Los Angeles Chapter of the 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, reads Fiddler's Green at a recent ceremony for one of our members.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyBIZp5syrJT5Q6IaeeA1vMQexhGq37Y0LeVVzmekyXNlNFZS2N0WilaH6qlqdKo0t5w_EDoMshcsT8CiLGsQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-24461291141497950882009-09-03T19:13:00.000-07:002009-09-08T10:38:20.555-07:0092 year-old - Trooper Robert McDaniel transferred to Fiddler's Green, August 27, 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3t2D90BFVa_E4ernB16Vvkl5rPrPfYZba0Y6uQmSlp7o3jj-BFPjlnm7MBsX-BUrFszsRALNR5OqeO075S2cLl5qQBlriSUzpOCPEgwLuJiQywBK1fBu6GwUa0D9x7GOoHa7WHVhDAhj/s1600-h/IMG_0193_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377429875379390866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3t2D90BFVa_E4ernB16Vvkl5rPrPfYZba0Y6uQmSlp7o3jj-BFPjlnm7MBsX-BUrFszsRALNR5OqeO075S2cLl5qQBlriSUzpOCPEgwLuJiQywBK1fBu6GwUa0D9x7GOoHa7WHVhDAhj/s320/IMG_0193_2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <p style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 18px; FONT: 24px Palatinocolor:#426526;" ><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px">A <b><i>Buffalo Soldier</i></b> Died Today!</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 6px; FONT: 9px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b></b></span></p><b><p style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 6px; FONT: 9px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT: 18px Palatino; LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A </span></b></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldier</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> died today, and when he did a mother and a father lost a son; siblings lost a brother; nieces and nephews lost an uncle. His wife lost her husband; the community lost a neighbor and his associates lost a friend. Now you might ask me; Trooper Jones, isn’t that basically what happens anytime someone dies? Yes it is! But this was a </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldier</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. We as a people lost a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">role model</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and this Nation lost another </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hero</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 6px; FONT: 9px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">role model</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and a </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hero</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Think about these words; let them roll around in your mind until you’ve created a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">concept of understanding</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> about their definitions, their meaning and what it truly takes to be, a </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">role model</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and a </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hero</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Now think of someone you know personally who is your </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">role model</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> or your </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hero</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. You’ll know that you have reached the correct understanding when you begin to feel a tingle that starts at the base of your neck and runs down your spine with a shiver that causes your shoulders to do the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">shimmy shake</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, and you whisper, “Oh my, I know someone like that!”</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 6px; FONT: 9px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Basically, a </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">role model</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is someone who is worthy of imitation. Alright, that makes sense. But how does </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">one </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">become </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">worthy</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">? Well, a worthy person is someone who has “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some way</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.” Merit? How does someone </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">merit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> anything? As it turns out </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">merit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">quality of being deserving. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You become </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">deserving</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> by your actions. In other words, you “</span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">earn”</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> it. </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 6px; FONT: 9px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Okay, we have arrived at the base </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">word</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> that I think we can </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">all</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> understand. </span></span><span style="FONT: 11px Palatino; LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Earn!</span></i></b></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> If we do our chores we </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">earn</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> playtime, if we do our homework we </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">earn</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> good grades and if we do our job we </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">earn</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> a salary. There are no shortcuts to </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">earning</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You have to do the time</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">!</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 6px; FONT: 9px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">role model</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is someone who has done the </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">time</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in such a way, that they have become deserving... they merit... they are so worthy of our respect and admiration that we view </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">them</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> as a </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Role Model</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 9px Palatino; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldier</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> died today! His name was: Trooper Robert L. McDaniel - WWII Veteran, U.S. Army - 4th Calvary Brigade, 2d</span></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Calvary Division, 9</span></span><span style="FONT: 6px Palatino; LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup></span><span style="LETTER-SPACING: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Calvary Regiment. He was one of the few remaining original Buffalo Soldiers from a bygone era. There aren’t that many of them left. You owe it to yourself to get to know a </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldier</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, before they are all gone. I knew one, and now he’s gone!</span></span></p></b><p></p>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-54877961472468701302009-08-27T12:09:00.000-07:002009-09-07T17:37:54.061-07:00Col. Charles Young Petition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSVHb3CGoVcvy-08ur8JFmEkRFpx-f4KBV9fagXD4N5xBsxAP90CFtpJT2IODivhx5xclB9hiACwCErUqea03F4WmqtEz3YtrK4fCAG6iA9mmdHZ-DxdV23dBc9aJG31qrHHuHDaOLopy/s1600-h/Col+Charles+Young_001.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 184px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSVHb3CGoVcvy-08ur8JFmEkRFpx-f4KBV9fagXD4N5xBsxAP90CFtpJT2IODivhx5xclB9hiACwCErUqea03F4WmqtEz3YtrK4fCAG6iA9mmdHZ-DxdV23dBc9aJG31qrHHuHDaOLopy/s200/Col+Charles+Young_001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374725478129769810" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px 0.0px; font: 35.0px Palatino; color:#33521d;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Did You Know?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Palatino"><span style="font: 18.0px Palatino; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">T</span></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ere is a grassroots effort in place to have Colonel Young, posthumously promoted to Brigadier General.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Palatino"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I first became aware of this project when Trooper Yolanda Williams (President of the Inland Empire Buffalo Soldier Heritage Association) asked me to participate in a letter writing campaign, to my State and National Congressional and Senatorial Representatives. Since that introduction, from Trooper Williams, there has been a ground swell of interest in this project and the Los Banos Chamber of Commerce and the Los Banos Chapter of the </span></span><span style="font: 8.0px Arial; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">NINTH & TENTH (HORSE) CAVALRY ASSOCIATION, </span></i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">have taken a proactive roll to make sure this effort comes to fruition. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In 2007, when Trooper Bobby McDonald ran for National President of the 9</span></span><span style="font: 5.3px Palatino; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> & 10</span></span><span style="font: 5.3px Palatino; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (Horse) Cavalry Association, his campaign slogan was; “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Preserving, Promoting & Perpetuating </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the history of the Buffalo Soldiers”. That is our, Millstone! As members of this great organization we have a moral responsibility to the OBS (Original Buffalo Soldiers); those that have gone on to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fiddler’s Green</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and to those </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Originals </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">who are still with us. We owe them our dedication and our trust that we will always attempt to do the right thing. If an organization or a group of organizations are trying to both figuratively and literally Promote the accomplishments of Col. Young, then it is our responsibility to get onboard and help guarantee the success of this endeavor. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish to salute to efforts of: Trooper David Ofwono, President of the Los Banos Buffalo Soldiers, along with Troopers: Geneva Brett, Kevin Craig, Jeff Periera, Phil Colman and Aimbrell Shanks, all Board members of the Los Banos Buffalo Soldiers - </span></span><span style="font: 8.0px Arial; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">NINTH & TENTH (HORSE) CAVALRY ASSOCIATION; </span></i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...I salute them for rolling up their sleeves and getting involved.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Arial"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How do we get involved?</span></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Los Banos Buffalo Soldiers Chapter has made it very easy for any of us who want to help and that should be anyone who is reading this article. Just go to their website:</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 9.0px Palatino; color:#000099;"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://www.losbanosbuffalosoldiers.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.losbanosbuffalosoldiers.org</span></a></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 8.0px Palatino"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Click on the “Promote Charles Young to General” link, and sign the petition. That’s all there is to it. Signing the petition is a three of four step process. Make sure you go through all the steps in order for your entry to be registered. I’ve already signed, just look for Trooper Ron Jones, California... I’ll be looking for your entry.</span></span></p>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-60264411779893100502009-08-06T12:45:00.000-07:002009-09-03T21:00:30.752-07:00A Brief History of Camp Lockett<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2LQZdEbY-38X7clzRjyA0n_SIoJQVGyHSJ7KPIAFMAKj1_8nl-cXPlRy1qcuoNe2XOybYRZDyU7-Sk92UXatr1-Tmftm6QZiRUVIIG00NMEOBQMUTLrQ5Hbye1Qe8-D4LJOCKIFRZM56/s1600-h/Dad.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2LQZdEbY-38X7clzRjyA0n_SIoJQVGyHSJ7KPIAFMAKj1_8nl-cXPlRy1qcuoNe2XOybYRZDyU7-Sk92UXatr1-Tmftm6QZiRUVIIG00NMEOBQMUTLrQ5Hbye1Qe8-D4LJOCKIFRZM56/s320/Dad.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366942773259229506" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><dt><center><b><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+1;color:#990000;">A Brief History</span></b></center></dt><dt><center><span style="font-family:Arial;">by</span></center></dt><dt><center><span style="font-family:Arial;">Trooper Fred D. Jones - 28th Cavalry Troop C</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"> WWII Buffalo Soldier</span></center></dt><dt><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><br /></span></center></dt><dt><center> </center></dt><dt style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Camp Lockett's site was chosen for a cavalry camp as far back as 1878 when sixteen troopers wearing the blue uniform of The US Cavalry bivouacked for several months in this small Mexican border valley. At that time it took a week to get to San Diego, the choicest acres of bottom land sold for $5 an acre, smugglers and belligerent, "Indians" were problems.</span></span></dt><dt><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">"E" Troop of the 11th Cavalry Regiment was stationed here in 1918 and since then therehave been a succession of home soldiers stationed at this strategic junction where road and rail road return to the United States after dipping into Baja California en route from San Diego to Yuma.</span></div></span></dt><dt><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Ground was broken for the present camp on June 23rd 1941. The 11th Cavalry Regiment came there two days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Camp Lockett is a horse cavalry camp. The surrounding terrain offers unparalleled opportunities to test man, beast and mechanized carriers over a wide variety of terrain that includes heavily wooded underbrush, desert sand, miles of barren, rocky wastelands, Streams to be forded, and other geographic hazards identical to those which confront cavalry troopers in battle conditions.</span></div></span></dt><dt><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Climatically this is a region of extremes. There is summer heat of 115 degrees; freezing temperature in winter. Long dry spells alternate with cloudbursts.</span></div><img src="http://www.militarymuseum.org/Resources/2cd.jpg" width="100" height="134" align="RIGHT" border="0" naturalsizeflag="2" alt="2d Cavalry Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia" style="text-align: justify;" /></span></dt><dt><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Some of the buildings were built as permanent cantonments while others were semi-permanent. The semi-permanent buildings no longer exist. There was a well equipped hospital which is now used as a youth facility. There are still standing many of the permanent barracks and some stables.</span></div></span></dt><dt><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">In 1942, the 10th Cavalry Regiment (the famed Buffalo Soldiers) moved into Camp Lockett to replace the11th Cavalry Regiment which had been converted into an armored unit. In 1943 The 28th Cavalry Regiment made up of inductees joined the 10th to form the 4th Cavalry Brigade of the 2nd Cavalry Division (Horse)</span></div></span></dt><dt><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">At the same time The 27th Cavalry Regiment, also made up of inductees, joined the 9th Cavalry Regiment to form the 5th Cavalry Brigade. This brigade was stationed in Fort Clark, Texas. Their duty was to guard the Texas-Mexican Border. While the 10th and 28th guarded the California-Mexican Border. These troopers also guarded the many installations along the border such as, trestles, bridges, dams, railroad tunnels and would be the first line of defense in case Germany or Japan attempted an invasion of the United States through Mexico.</span></div></span></dt><dt><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">In 1944 The 9th, 10th, 27th and 28th were dismounted and sent to North Africa. Soon after their arrival there all four regiments were inactivated and converted into service troops. This marked the end of the horse cavalry in the United States Army. The 28th, through an error was not officially inactivated until 1951.This makes Camp Lockett the last home of the last horse cavalry in the US Army.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Note: Information obtained from <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:Times, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://www.militarymuseum.org/CpLockett.html">The California State Military Museum</a></span></span></div></span></dt></span>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-5260441596982474772009-08-06T08:47:00.000-07:002009-09-03T21:03:55.762-07:00A Moment in History<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:medium;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">A Moment in History</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD5vZsHnw2IpUMFvyWeJTUAslEwGZo1Rk8RdJ4KeGCsSVmYreafnt7puMgTaLWBSLBSSwjdw65_eB5q1h4yjewlWli57hxyL6ShG2KUMo_pAm0BQPiRrGK59sLm7CVZkycXoWUA0t11xA/s320/HoustonWedlock_horseback_edit%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366924120174948258" /><p style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">By Adrian O' Connor & Trooper Houston Wedlock</span></span></p><p></p><span style="color:black;"><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1913, the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> Came to Winchester</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Their band played “Dixie.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ninety-six years ago this summer, on the morning of July 19, 1913, troopers of the 10th U.S. Cavalry, more than 700 strong and led by their regimental band, rode into Winchester.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As the horsemen displayed their prowess in the saddle, the unit’s 28 musicians warmed the hearts of the local residents who lined Main (now Loudoun) Street by playing the tune most associated with the cause of Southern independence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">That this scene was touched by a certain undeniable irony is evident in the identity of the troopers. Though commanded by white officers, the 10th Cavalry was, in its rank and file, an all-black regiment.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Many were the sons of freed slaves. Others were descendants of black Civil War veterans. All were known by the name given in honor by <a name="hit1"></a>the Cheyenne during the Indian Wars — “<span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span>.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">That unusual demonstration in the streets of Winchester — black musicians playing the popular Confederate anthem in a Southern town — was but a foreshadowing of a unique, albeit largely unknown, episode in the history of the northern Shenandoah Valley.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For two months that summer, a sprawling “camp of cavalry instruction” occupied 1,200 acres along the Front Royal Road.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit2"></a>For the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> of the 10th Cavalry, the road to “Dixie” — and the streets of Winchester — began more than a month and 706 miles earlier, at Fort Ethan Allen, Vt.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hard as it may be to imagine now, the U.S. War Department would often hold peacetime maneuvers in locales far removed from its forts, or bases of operations.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Such was the case in 1913 when the 10th Cavalry left Fort Ethan Allen for a handpicked site in Frederick County.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To move the largest cavalry command the Valley would see since Union Gen. Philip Sheridan put the Shenandoah to the torch in 1864 was a considerable undertaking.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">More than 700 men — 680 troopers and 30 officers — left Vermont on June 16 with 800 horses and mules and 36 wagons stocked with provisions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The line of march led the 10th through such cities and towns as Burlington and Hubbardton in Vermont and Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Cobleskill, Oneonta, and Sidney in New York.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In Winchester, the regiment would be joined by the 11th Cavalry, based in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and selected troops from the 15th Cavalry, stationed at Fort Sheridan, Ill. — all-white regiments both.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The 10th’s journey south was largely uneventful, save for an incident in Carlisle, Pa., in which a young woman said a black trooper had assaulted her and knocked her escort unconscious. However, after two examinations of the entire command did not yield a positive identification of the assailant, it was concluded that a cavalryman was not to blame for the crime.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit3"></a>By July 17, the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span>, averaging a crisp 23 miles a day, had reached Williamsport, Md., where they camped for the night. The next day found them at Darkesville, W.Va., south of Martinsburg, their last stop before establishing their bivouac outside Winchester.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit4"></a>When the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> stepped proudly on parade through the city on July 19, the lion’s share of the 15th Cavalry was already in camp, having arrived the day before.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">By nightfall of July 20, other detachments from the 15th made it to the camp on the high, rolling terrain blessed with a perfect view of the distant Blue Ridge. (The site is roughly five miles down U.S. 522 from the Interstate 81/U.S. 50 interchange, across from the aptly named Fort View Motel).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Troops B, C, and D had spent two days at the Antietam battlefield in Maryland; another group, accompanied by a battery of field artillery, would come rolling into town on Baltimore & Ohio railroad cars from Fort Sheridan.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This swelled the ranks to roughly 2,100 men.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Two more troops, one each from the 11th and 15th regiments, would come late the following week, pushing the total to nearly 2,500.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In charge of the camp was Col. Cunliffe H. Murray of the 12th Cavalry. Leading the <a name="hit5"></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> was a relatively new commander, Col. John C. Gresham, who had replaced Col. Thaddeus W. Jones, a veteran of 40 years in the saddle, the previous October.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As expected, a “state of chaos and confusion” reigned in those early hours of camp, as The Star noted in its columns of July 21. But order eventually prevailed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A field hospital quickly took shape, as did a post exchange and a post office.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, the Army could do little to prevent the hurlyburly on the Front Royal Road outside the camp.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A swarm of vendors had set up shanties selling candy, fruit, cakes, and soft drinks to the throngs of visitors who flocked to the site to observe what the Army had in store for the next two months.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Over that period, the assembled cavalrymen would engage in tactical maneuvers, simulated war games, field exercises, and horsemanship and saber competitions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As Col. Murray told The Star, the real instruction would begin at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Houston Wedlock is not a man given to craziness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Such a state of mind hardly becomes a person of his stature. A Green Beret, Wedlock retired from the Army in 1974 after 20 years of service — with 498 airplane jumps and two tours of Vietnam under his belt.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And yet, upon discovering <a name="hit6"></a>that the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> had actually bivouacked near Winchester, he said, “I went crazy.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But for good reason.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now a resident of Columbia, Md., Wedlock, 66 (at the time of this original article), was born and raised in the Clarke County community of White Post, just a short gallop from the site of that “camp of cavalry instruction” on the Front Royal Road.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“I never knew they were here,” he said. “This was home, and this is a nice piece of history for the town.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And “a nice piece of history” for a re-enactor and member of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association to pursue.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Together with Air Force veteran Stanley Lawson, another native of White Post, and Isaac Prentice of Fort Washington, Md., Wedlock formed the “Research Re-enactors” back in the ’90s.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The group is dedicated to <a name="hit7"></a>all things <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldier</b></span> as well as to the history of the four historically all-black regiments — the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th U.S. Infantry — known collectively by that name.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The three men — all retired or, in Wedlock’s case, semi-retired — couple their interest in history with a devotion to community outreach.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Donning distinctive period <a name="hit8"></a>dress, they’ve brought the story of the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> to schools, churches, and federal agencies. They’ve done television shows and participated in parades and marches all over the Washington, D.C., area and beyond — particularly during February, Black History Month.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, as Prentice points out, what they strive to teach is “not black history, but American history.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“These men,” he said, “were Americans. Their stories are American stories.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Prentice, through his uniform, has a particular story to tell — that of Capt. Henry Vinton Plummer, the first black chaplain in the U.S. Army after Reconstruction.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Born a slave in Prince George’s County, Md., in 1844, Plummer received an appointment to the 9th Cavalry in 1884 and served as chaplain to that unit for the ensuing 10 years.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Wedlock and Lawson, meanwhile, appear in generic cavalry uniforms, circa 1885. Wedlock wears the mounted uniform of a first sergeant; Lawson sports a sergeant’s field uniform, complete with the distinctive yellow trooper’s gloves.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“It’s an interesting hobby,” Wedlock said. “We’ve been to so many schools in [the Winchester] area, but we could<a name="hit9"></a>never tell the kids the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <a name="hit10"></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> were here. Now we can.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Toward that informational end, Wedlock has immersed himself in the lore of that 1913 venture.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Using the records on file at Carlisle Barracks (the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.), he has meticulously tracked the route of the 10th Cavalry from Fort Ethan Allen to Winchester.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Through his research, Wedlock has a theory as to why Winchester was chosen as the site for this camp.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The northern Valley, he says, was centrally located for the three regiments that would participate in the camp of instruction. What’s more, it was close enough for officials of the War Department (Secretary Lindley M. Garrison, for example) and the central command (Army Chief of Staff Gen. Leonard Wood) to come from Washington to review the troops.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">From a historical perspective, Wedlock notices too a certain symmetry in the selection <a name="hit11"></a>of Winchester. A goodly number of <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span>, he says, hailed from this general area.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lawson, for instance, likes to point out that Trooper (Pvt.) Charles Davis was reared in White Post, where the house in which he grew up still stands. Davis, however, did not take part in the 1913 camp, as he was a member of the 9th Cavalry.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">That Davis’ memory lives on can be attributed not merely to Wedlock and Lawson. His kinfolk — in particular, three generations of Ford men, all named Edwin James — still reside in the Valley.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In fact, Edwin James Ford Jr. of Winchester happily provided the photos of his great uncle that appear with this article.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit12"></a>The memories of other <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> remain fresh, largely due to the re-enactors’ joyful efforts to keep the legacy before the public.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Wedlock, for example, clearly relishes his role as historian and story-teller. One of his more interesting tales is that of Cathay Williams, who, as William Cathey, disguised herself as a man and joined the <a name="hit13"></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> shortly after the Civil War.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Tall and slender at 5 foot 9, she managed to remain a trooper for two years (18661868) without being discovered.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Even Cathay, said Wedlock, has a northern Valley connection, having served as cook and washerwoman to the staff of Gen. Phil Sheridan when it was based in Winchester during the climactic Valley Campaign of 1864.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The 10th U.S. Cavalry was commissioned and activated at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., on July 28, 1866.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It did not take long for the black troopers — freed slaves and Civil War veterans — to make a name for themselves.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While patrolling the Kansas Pacific Railroad in the summer of 1867, the 10th, commanded by Col. Benjamin H. Grierson, twice engaged larger bands of Cheyenne in sharp combat.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was after these clashes that the Cheyenne dubbed<a name="hit14"></a>their blue-clad foe “<span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <a name="hit15"></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span>” — for their skin color, for their short, wooly hair, and, most of all, for their fierceness in battle.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The appellation soon became a badge of honor. The<a name="hit16"></a>10th, in time, included a <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>buffalo</b></span> figure as part of its insignia.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Later that year, riding with Sheridan, the 10th vigorously pursued — and eventually captured — the famous Cheyenne leader Black Kettle and his warrior band through a blinding snowstorm. This episode added to the regiment’s growing legend.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Though the 10th would be involved in 177 separate engagements over the course of the protracted Indian Wars, much of their duty was considerably more prosaic.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit17"></a>In addition to fighting Indians, the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span>scouted and patrolled a 34,420-mile area of the Western plains, laid hundreds of miles of new railroad track, put up new telegraph lines, protected mail coaches, arrested cattle rustlers and bandits, and escorted settlers, railroad crews, and even herds of cattle to their respective destinations in the West.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Together with the other allblack horse regiment, the 9th,<a name="hit18"></a>the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> of the 10th comprised 20 percent of the cavalry stationed in the West.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">During the Indian Wars, no <a name="hit19"></a>less than 18 <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> received the Medal of Honor, with Sgt. Emanuel Stance being the first such honoree.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What’s more, the black regiments boasted the lowest rate of desertion — 4 percent — in the Army. Overall, this rate ran as high as 25 percent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Nonetheless, certain officers — Gen. George Armstrong Custer being the most noteworthy — were either reluctant or outright refused to place the black troopers under their command.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A notable exception was future General of the Armies John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, who, early in his career, was a junior officer in the 10th. In fact, his nickname can be traced to those days in the 1890s when he led black troops.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Late in the Indian Wars, the 10th was instrumental in chasing down the two renegade Apache chieftains, Victorio and Geronimo. Then, roughly a decade later, they fought heroically alongside Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in their fabled charge up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1909, in response to allegations of discrimination — it was said the black regiments were given the worst billets even when they requested better — the Army decided to move the 10th east to the relative comfort of Fort Ethan Allen with its indoor riding hall and superbly equipped gymnasium.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And it was from there, of course, that the 10th left on its 706-mile trek to Winchester and the “camp of cavalry instruction” on the Front Royal Road.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">That the troopers of the 10th, 11th, and 15th Cavalry quickly became a part of the Winchester community during their two-month stay can be evidenced on the pages of The Star.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For example, the cavalry officers sponsored a dance (Aug. 4); the precision-riding troopers were the hit of a talent show to benefit the Winchester hospital (Aug. 20); and the camp opened its tent flaps to the public for a “moving pictures” program (Aug. 30) and then for a minstrel show (Sept. 6).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The highlight of their immersion in local affairs came during the second week of September when, as part of the Winchester Fair, the Army <a name="hit20"></a>horse <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>soldiers</b></span> displayed their talents in cavalry drills and races to crowds numbering — in The Star’s estimate — as high as 12,000 people.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To be sure, the camp did experience its share of untoward bumps during those two months in the Valley.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The local constabulary seized a stash of illegal liquor on Aug. 11; “sundry offenses” by troopers necessitated a series of courts-martial on Aug. 19; and, on Sept. 5, a lovesick trooper from the 11th Cavalry — Ernest Baker — committed suicide when his fianceé “threw him over.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, the incident that caused the most stir among the local populace came early in the Army’s prolonged visit.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">On July 25, Frederick County Sheriff Luther Pannett, with the cooperation of Lt. Arthur Conrad of the 10th Cavalry, arrested two white women in a tent at the edge of camp.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The women, said to be French-Canadian, were caught in the company of six black troopers, all of whom escaped in the chaotic raid. One, however, cut himself severely on a wire fence, necessitating a trip to the Army’s field hospital.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was not until four days later that police in Harrisburg, Pa., nabbed the raid’s foremost target — a mulatto named Samuel Franklin allegedly engaged in the white slave trade.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For the most part, the Army earned praise for its exemplary conduct. In fact, Winchester Police Chief M.A. Doran saw fit to respond to a Baltimore Sun article of July 27 that stated black troopers were misbehaving on the streets of Winchester, to the point of pushing residents off the sidewalks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Quickly dismissing the allegations, Doran informed Col. Gresham, commander of the 10th, that “there has not been a single complaint regarding the conduct of either the white or colored troopers, but on the other hand they have conducted themselves at all times in a quiet and orderly fashion.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In late September, the big brass — Secretary of War Garrison and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wood — visited Winchester to survey the camp and review the troops.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then, beginning on the evening of Sept. 29, the three regiments commenced breaking camp.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">By 8 a.m. on Sept. 30, they were gone.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The 10th Cavalry made its way to Roslyn, across the Potomac River from Washington, where, in the second week of October, it conducted exercises and passed in review before President Woodrow Wilson.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">On Oct. 11, the regiment left by train for Fort Ethan Allen.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit21"></a>The 10th’s days in Vermont, however, were shortlived. In November and December of 1913, the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span><a name="hit22"></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> left the comfort of the fort and returned to the Southwest.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona, they patrolled the volatile Mexican border, often crossing into Mexico to pursue bandits and gun-runners from that politically unstable nation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit23"></a>Later, the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> would fight together in both world wars and in Korea.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After the armed forces were <a name="hit24"></a>desegregated in 1952, <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>soldiers</b></span> from these previously all-black regiments were absorbed into other units.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="hit25"></a>Though the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> are now consigned to history, the 9th and 10th Cavalry live on, reincarnated as regiments of armor. The 24th Infantry, the last all-black regiment to see action (in Korea), remains on the Army’s rolls; the 25th Infantry, however, was disbanded.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">While it’s safe to assume that those rolling hills of southeastern Frederick County will never again feel the synchronized tumult of pounding hooves or hear the lonesome sounds of morning reveille or nightly “Taps,” that very ground may one day witness the return of horses, mules, and excited riders.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">That is, if Houston Wedlock can somehow turn a dream into reality.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Only this time, the horsemen, as it were, will not be the seasoned troopers of old, but children, youths whose lives have been fractured by neglect and abuse.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Shortly after retiring from his second career, as a regional administrator for Preston Trucking Co., Wedlock became involved with Vision Quest, a nationwide program for at-risk youth based in Tucson, Ariz.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">These children are adjudicated to Vision Quest’s care from juvenile courts. For the past 29 years, the organization, which receives funding from individual states, has employed a rigorous program grounded in military discipline to help these youngsters attain a proper path in life.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">An unusual feature of the program — and one near and dear to Wedlock’s heart — gives each child the responsibility of caring for an animal, usually a horse. Regionally, Vision Quest has a camp in Pennsylvania, near South Mountain, where these animals are quartered.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“We try to keep the kids busy,” Wedlock said. “We show them that they should give something back [to the community].”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Wedlock’s dream, therefore, is to bring his Vision Quest youth to Frederick County and re-create the encampment of 1913 on the very property <a name="hit26"></a>where the<span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> once rode.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is hardly an idle “vision” — or “quest,” for that matter. He has already done a similar re-enactment, based on the history of Custer’s 7th Cavalry, in Montana.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Wedlock originally hoped to put such an event together in years past, but work with Vision Quest kept him on the road virtually the entire summer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, guided by the spirit of <a name="hit27"></a>the <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Buffalo</b></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><b>Soldiers</b></span> of yore, he has set his sights to the future, when on the anniversary of their arrival, he will celebrate, with the young troopers, when the rolling thunder of galloping steeds could be heard up and down the Front Royal Road.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Note: Slight edits were made to the article to update certain time lines. The photo of Trooper Wedlock was made available by the Vermont Area 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/vtbuffalosoldiers/Vermont-Buffalo-Soldiers/fort-ethan-allen-living-history-day">Vermont-Buffalo-Soldiers - Fort Ethan Allen</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; "><br /></p></span></span>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-60488294622233882742009-02-08T22:12:00.000-08:002009-02-08T23:57:18.480-08:00Trooper Dallas Miller - Resting in Fiddler's Green<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9olICHHaWIDuWa95tLnP2Lu4So-QinV3vky4w4VneEDTRnDjrW0stdsYfMIukwsC9n11DNi3wJNfwlA8pJQZ2GP9WFHEBFPmJ_Tbs50spfA4-1_fyKVGbXxmGCEbduoyqafJLyAVDEJEZ/s1600-h/image001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9olICHHaWIDuWa95tLnP2Lu4So-QinV3vky4w4VneEDTRnDjrW0stdsYfMIukwsC9n11DNi3wJNfwlA8pJQZ2GP9WFHEBFPmJ_Tbs50spfA4-1_fyKVGbXxmGCEbduoyqafJLyAVDEJEZ/s320/image001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300680293721330626" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Dallas retired from the Army as a Commissioned Officer. Upon retirement, Dallas worked as a High School Science teacher in DeKalb County, Georgia. In 1998, Dallas began his career with the Federal Government with the Environmental Protection Agency as a Congressional Liaison. In 2001, Dallas began his CDC career as a Public Health Advisor in the Division of Viral Hepatitis.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dallas transitioned this life on February 5, 2009 - at his home with family and friends providing comfort and support. Dallas will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He is survived by his loving wife, Panina Sandiford and son, Dallas Alexander of Stone Mountain, Georgia, his mother, Ora Castella Miller-Oliver of Danville, Virginia, brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Felicia Miller of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Larry W. and Pearl Miller of Danville, Virginia, sisters Linda C. Miller of Danville, Virginia and a host of family and friends. He was proceeded in death by his sister, the late, J. Valerie Grice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was a Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a member of DeKalb County Veteran's Task Force and he was also Commissioner Lou Walker's appointee for DeKalb County's Home Land Security Board. He served as President of the Buffalo Soldiers - Greater Atlanta Area Chapter 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, for four years. He spent much of his time going throughout the country educating the public about the history of these forgotten and unrecognized heroes. He took time off from work to visit schools with his Troop, presenting a living history of the Buffalo Soldiers on horseback to young people, instilling in them a sense of realism and identification.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Georgia - Memorial Service will be held Monday, February 9, 2009 at 11:00 AM, 240 Chandler Road S.E., Atlanta, Georgia, zip code 30317. Senior Pastor George Moore will preside over the services. A home-going service will be held for Dallas on Wednesday, February 11th, at 11:00 AM, at the Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home, 707 Wilson Street, Danville, Virginia, 24541.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Donations can be made in Dallas' honor via the internet at: www.leukemia-lymphoma.org. Condolences may be sent to: 1960 Scarbourgh Drive, Stone Mountain, Georgia, 30088.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Questions regarding this announcement can be directed to Todette Bryant at (404) 498-2717. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';">Fiddler's Green</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">W</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hen a cavalryman dies, he begins a long march</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">to his ultimate destination. About half-way along</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the road he enters a broad meadow dotted with trees</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and crossed by many streams, known as "Fiddler's Green".</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As he crosses 'The Green' he finds an old canteen, a single</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">spur, and a carbine sling. Continuing on the road he comes to a</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">field camp where he finds all the troopers who have gone</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">before him, with their campfires, tents and picket lines neatly laid out.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All other branches of the military must continue to march without pause.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cavalrymen though are authorized to dismount, unsaddle and stay in</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fiddler's Green... their canteens ever full... the grass always green,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and enjoy the companionship and reminisce with old friends.</span></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:18px;"><p class="EC_EC_MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:19px;"><br /></span></p></span></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-91550371207548463712009-01-24T23:43:00.000-08:002009-09-03T21:10:25.968-07:00Trooper Royal Carter joins others at Fiddler's Green<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqHU2tCgbtL14S9o46lyJlJ7X3laxP00moNaRQyVZX0VKV-Kv4mBE_oGmTwSdcoFgLyNz_137SWbHhBX6OPvyXUzC6gN4IjN2x3co4u74BEETjeDZhOf_GYc-IMYnkphJawX72-rezxeT/s1600-h/Trooper+Carter.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqHU2tCgbtL14S9o46lyJlJ7X3laxP00moNaRQyVZX0VKV-Kv4mBE_oGmTwSdcoFgLyNz_137SWbHhBX6OPvyXUzC6gN4IjN2x3co4u74BEETjeDZhOf_GYc-IMYnkphJawX72-rezxeT/s200/Trooper+Carter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295134010395423362" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">On January 17th, 2009, Trooper Royal E. Carter II joined the other troopers who have gone before him in Fiddler's Green.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Trooper Carter was born October 11th, 1920, in Topeka, Kansas, the first child of Royal E. Carter Sr. and Izene Carter. He spent his early childhood in Detroit and returned to Kansas at age twelve, where he graduated from high school, joined the Civilian Conservation Corp and the United States Army.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At age twenty-one he came to California, where he got married and decided that California was where he wanted to live. He settled in Los Angeles for twenty years where he fathered two girls, went to school, obtained Certificates in Accounting and Real Estate and went to work for the U.S. Navy Purchasing Office and eventually the U.S. Department of State. In 1974 he officially retired from Government service.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like the seeds of wild flowers carried by the wind, Royal traveled far and wide during his lifetime. His work and travels took him to North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, Finland, Russia, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Far East.</div><div><br /></div><div>Royal spent the last year in Phoenix, Arizona with his loving daughter Toylana.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Royal was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Tillie Carter, a brother, Edwin Carter, and two sisters, Wavie T. Santiago and Madeline Earles. He is survived by daughters, Ethelyn Martin and Toylana Brown, son-in-law, Ron Brown, step-daughter, Terry Scott, sister, Maxine Gauff, Albert Gauff "the best brother-in-law a man ever had", five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Fiddler's Green</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">W</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">hen a cavalryman dies, he begins a long march</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">to his ultimate destination. About half-way along</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">the road he enters a broad meadow dotted with trees</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">and crossed by many streams, known as "Fiddler's Green".</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">As he crosses 'The Green' he finds an old canteen, a single</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">spur, and a carbine sling. Continuing on the road he comes to a</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">field camp where he finds all the troopers who have gone</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">before him, with their campfires, tents and picket lines neatly laid out.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">All other branches of the military must continue to march without pause.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Cavalrymen though are authorized to dismount, unsaddle and stay in</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Fiddler's Green... their canteens ever full... the grass always green,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">and enjoy the companionship and reminisce with old friends.</span></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-37232771016432808632008-07-27T10:45:00.000-07:002008-07-28T06:11:58.439-07:00The Da Vinci Code and the Buffalo Soldier.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBEKA7drHpjaGyyUbyGP_44BvxFaSHV_4iu4eOMBaSkZC3SkyX696IZ9abEnL6hXlqt-t6GSgGNHibGz5phMmtwzCy3zkQDvLJ9CqniKPGEtH2k4i6qrG9PhLkySUhR9imqs8aCm_t6uV/s1600-h/Mona+Lisa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBEKA7drHpjaGyyUbyGP_44BvxFaSHV_4iu4eOMBaSkZC3SkyX696IZ9abEnL6hXlqt-t6GSgGNHibGz5phMmtwzCy3zkQDvLJ9CqniKPGEtH2k4i6qrG9PhLkySUhR9imqs8aCm_t6uV/s400/Mona+Lisa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227751567056477170" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">D</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">id other codes left by Leonardo foretell the coming of a specific </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldier</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">? Let's take a look at the facts. </span></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fact</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Leonardo was Catholic and my father, Trooper Frederic Douglass Jones, was Catholic.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fac</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t: Leonardo spoke Italian and Trooper Jones taught himself to speak Italian and was his squadron's interrupter when he served with the 92nd Infantry Division in Italy during WWII.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fact</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa in the early 1500's and Trooper Jones finished his painting of the Mona Lisa exactly 450 years later.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">act</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Leonardo Da Vinci is an anagram. If you rearrange the letters and then take a few of them out and add others, you get, Fred of Cincinnati, FACT!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leonardo epitomized the 'Renaissance Man' because he excelled in the arts and sciences. Any of us who knew Trooper Jones knows that he also excelled in the arts and sciences and was without a doubt, a 'Renaissance Man.'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fact</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Leonardo died at the age of 66. In 1866 the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldiers</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> were created by an act of Congress.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Trooper Jones was born in 1923. If you add 19 and 23 you get 42. Now add 4 plus 2 and you get 6. If you hold the number 6 next to a mirror you'll see two sixes, the one you're holding and the one in the mirror. Now, everyone knows that Leonardo practiced 'Mirror Writing,' so the clue here (with one of the 6's reversed in the mirror) is leading us back to Leonardo at the age of his death, which was, 66, FACT!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Not only that, but this clue is also telling us what year in the 1800's the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldiers</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> would be organized, which of course was 1866, FACT!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have had a little fun here at the expense of the "DA VINCI CODE." With all the hype that was going on around the movie and the book, we just wanted to show you that Dan Brown isn't the only one who can have fun playing with the FACTS!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Trooper Jones was not unique among WWII Buffalo Soldiers. Just talk to Trooper Eugene Lewis, Trooper Waldo Henderson, Trooper Bruce Dennis, or Trooper Fred Cartha; have a chat with Trooper Andrew Isaacs, Trooper Royal Carter, Trooper Robert McDaniel, or Trooper James Cooper; sit down with Trooper Harold Cole, Trooper Ernest Collier, Trooper Henry Phillips, Trooper Alfred Evans, Trooper Robert Joyce Jr or any of the other surviving WWII, and Korean War </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldiers</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. You will find that all of these men were ahead of their time, true 'Renaissance Men." How far could they have truly gone, in life, if not for the color of their skin?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fact</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Desertions among White regiments were roughly three times greater than those among the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Buffalo Soldier</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> units, during the Indian Wars. Also, both Black Cavalry and Infantry regiments had lower rates of alcoholism than their White counterparts.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fact</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: The 9</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and 10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Cavalries’ service in subduing Mexican revolutionaries, hostile </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.imh.org/imh/buf/jpg/bs_villa.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; "></a>Native Americans, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">outlaws, comancheros, and rustlers was as invaluable as it was unrecognized. It was also accomplished over some of the most rugged and inhospitable country in North America. A list of their adversaries – Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Victorio, Lone Wolf, Billy the Kid, and Pancho Villa – reads like a “Who’s Who” of the American West.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fac</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Lesser known, but equally important, the Buffalo Soldiers explored and mapped vast areas of the southwest and strung hundreds of miles of telegraph lines. They built and repaired frontier outposts around which future towns and cities sprang to life. Without the protection provided by the 9</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and 10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Cavalries, crews building the ever expanding railroads were at the mercy of outlaws and hostile Indians. The Buffalo Soldiers consistently received some of the worst assignments the Army had to offer. They also faced fierce prejudice to both the colors of their Union uniforms and their skin by many of the citizens of the post-war frontier towns. Despite this, the troopers of the 9</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and 10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Cavalries developed into two of the most distinguished fighting units in the Army.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fact</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Their 30 years of uninterrupted service in the western territories and frontier is the longest by any military unit in the history of the U.S. Army.<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Imagine the protest that would be organized today if we left four regiments of the 1</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Cavalry Division in Iraq for the next 30 years, with the same men who had little or no chance for reassignment because they could only be reassigned to another segregated regiment and those regiments were in Iraq already.<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Can you imagine?</span></span></span></span></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-53658433079921567452008-07-26T17:54:00.000-07:002008-07-28T07:01:21.395-07:00Walking in the Footsteps of a Buffalo Soldier<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrdt5oxBv7sodm583VC0hR40qumlYzmJ_dTYQgH_lX_DcEcjPC5B82wlf6aJ-CvpssoV26fdo6mWccnIri99fIgzAriE_-7ZBpmgsgjiGJ_ETrkGBpuIWkIOvwdzWd5y33pPaOtZhIgm9/s1600-h/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_001.png"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpI1nkD77ziy4RlFMiYzRgIhMh8sw0Jl2n4cD_VBQsjb4uiO7Tr2frceGdrIkSN7kgI1yBXoGnjI0aUqkrFdhblEI9iDf47UL1TKRXiPiDOssqZevzivBBh5KHPYTu8V9MJTrxxi2M3p1/s1600-h/Foot+Steps+Oct+04.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpI1nkD77ziy4RlFMiYzRgIhMh8sw0Jl2n4cD_VBQsjb4uiO7Tr2frceGdrIkSN7kgI1yBXoGnjI0aUqkrFdhblEI9iDf47UL1TKRXiPiDOssqZevzivBBh5KHPYTu8V9MJTrxxi2M3p1/s320/Foot+Steps+Oct+04.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227526968105992818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">he</span> Campo Valley is about half way between San Diego and El Centro, California. Just 12 miles to the West of Interstate 8, you take Exit 51, the State Route S1 exit in San Diego County. The drive from Los Angeles to Camp Lockett was 180 miles by my odometer, but the trip took me 65 years back in time. It was around March of ’43 when a new recruit named Fred Jones boarded a troop train at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. 10 days later he found himself at Camp Lockett, in California. When dad stepped off the train he saw Black Troopers on horseback and he asked, "Where am I?" One of the troopers replied, "This is the 10th Cavalry, son." Dad was very familiar with the Black men who served this country in the segregated units of the 9th and 10th mounted cavalry, nicknamed "Buffalo Soldiers" by the Native Americans during the Indian Wars. In fact, he was continuing the family legacy that started with his uncle, Trooper John Powell, who served in the 10th cavalry during World War I. Camp Lockett was the new home of the 10th and the newly formed 28th cavalry regiments. Dad and many young men from the mid-west would make of the bulk of the new regiment.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz9mHXzVfFwO-PJBVR7mc9N48dIKSS0p7fCHX_fER0Ii1Yq8jkEduHTPBbHILf5Ko1syYsM8Uc92p_yZIrYilpB7VP5f2Fct5OTHn6EGJHYNhSIlzpYc1Z7q_AL-fMN8LfUlvzmswbZgH/s1600-h/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_002.png"><br /></a></div><div>I don't believe the Campo Valley has changed much in the past 65 years. Outside of a few new ranch homes here and there and a freshly paved highway that leads to Cameron's Corners and on to the base, the topology hasn't changed much. Rolling hills and open pastures are dotted by hugh boulders that seemed as though they were dropped by some over loaded boulder hauling space craft that flew over the area on its way back to its home planet. It's very easy to let your imagination drift back to a time when this area was overrun with Troopers perfecting their skills as premier horsemen. They protected the railways, reservoirs, bridges and tunnels in the area. They were this country's first line of defense for any enemy that attempted to attack the United States from the South and they along with other Buffalo Soldier regiments in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, patrolled the US - Mexico border until all the regiments were shipped out to North Africa in 1944.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>During my drive down to Camp Lockett, I was reminded of the last time I drove on State Route S1. It was in 2002. Dad and I were coming down for a rededication ceremony of a monument to the Virgin Mary, built by Italian prisoners-of-war who were held on the base after the 10th and 28th Regiments had shipped out to North Africa. Dad told me the regiments used to do 24 mile force-marches on Route S1 from the base to where I-8 is today and then back to the base. The marches were done at night, leaving Camp Lockett around 22:00 and returning the next morning by 06:00. </div><div><br /></div><div>During one of these night maneuvers a trooper thought he would make a little money by selling whiskey to the other troopers while they were out on the road. Leave it to some enterprising young trooper to try to earn some extra cash on the side. His plan was to fill his canteen with whiskey and after they've been out for a few hours he'd start selling capfuls, of the Devil's brew, at whatever price the market would bear. There is an old saying in the desert, "water is more precious than gold." After a few hours had gone by and no sales were being made the young trooper started to get thirsty. It seems that alcohol doesn't satisfy ones thirst like water does; in fact it makes it a lot worse. A lesson the young trooper learned the hard way. He eventually ended up pouring out the whiskey and then begging his fellow troopers for water. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(the best laid plans of mice and men...) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I didn't do Dad's story much justice here. Dad was a great storyteller! I guess, when you walk in the footsteps of a Buffalo Soldier, you'd best be prepared to fill some might big boots.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Camp Lockett's site was chosen for a cavalry post as far back as 1878 when sixteen troopers wearing the Blue uniform of the US Cavalry bivouacked for several months in this small mexican border valley. At that time it took a week to get to San Diego, the choicest acres of bottomland sold for $5 an acre: smugglers, cattle wrestlers and bandits were a constant problem.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz9mHXzVfFwO-PJBVR7mc9N48dIKSS0p7fCHX_fER0Ii1Yq8jkEduHTPBbHILf5Ko1syYsM8Uc92p_yZIrYilpB7VP5f2Fct5OTHn6EGJHYNhSIlzpYc1Z7q_AL-fMN8LfUlvzmswbZgH/s1600-h/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_002.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz9mHXzVfFwO-PJBVR7mc9N48dIKSS0p7fCHX_fER0Ii1Yq8jkEduHTPBbHILf5Ko1syYsM8Uc92p_yZIrYilpB7VP5f2Fct5OTHn6EGJHYNhSIlzpYc1Z7q_AL-fMN8LfUlvzmswbZgH/s320/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_002.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227526977597661410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><div>Ground was broken for the present camp on June 23rd, 1941. The surrounding terrain offers unparalleled opportunities to test man, beast and mechanized carriers over a wide variety of terrain that includes heavily wooded underbrush, desert sand, miles of barren, rocky wastelands, streams to be forded and other geographic hazards identical to those which confront cavalry troopers in battle conditions.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Climatically this is a region of extremes. There is summer heat of 115 degrees and freezing temperatures in the winter. Long dry spells alternate with cloudburst. The Campo Valley is known as an area having one of the longest thermometers (meaning temperature swings) in the country.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrdt5oxBv7sodm583VC0hR40qumlYzmJ_dTYQgH_lX_DcEcjPC5B82wlf6aJ-CvpssoV26fdo6mWccnIri99fIgzAriE_-7ZBpmgsgjiGJ_ETrkGBpuIWkIOvwdzWd5y33pPaOtZhIgm9/s1600-h/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_001.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrdt5oxBv7sodm583VC0hR40qumlYzmJ_dTYQgH_lX_DcEcjPC5B82wlf6aJ-CvpssoV26fdo6mWccnIri99fIgzAriE_-7ZBpmgsgjiGJ_ETrkGBpuIWkIOvwdzWd5y33pPaOtZhIgm9/s400/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_001.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227579811826069058" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; " /></a></div><div>Today, at the southern edge of Camp Lockett stands a 10-foot tall corrugated wall that runs as far as the eye can see. It represents the US-Mexico border. In the early 1940's, when the Buffalo Soldiers patrolled this area, no such wall existed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">In 1942, the 10th Cavalry Regiment (the famed Buffalo Soldiers) moved into Camp Lockett to replace the 11th Cavalry Regiment, which had been converted into an armored unit. In 1943 the 28th Cavalry Regiment made up of inductees joined the 10th to form the 4th Cavalry Brigade of the 2nd Cavalry Division (Horse).</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXI_8iLRTsrCNDHBp-pN6LEFkRnLGTKvnsrDDtYfJg4We2J6bk2pujP2blTsfrCXJp-DfHn2v5HHytphu0UBlzOaNl4nyhLzQzVvdzwD9ob2X5l39vt5TURkeYR0QLdEpUDxE03iMJCT-/s1600-h/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_003.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXI_8iLRTsrCNDHBp-pN6LEFkRnLGTKvnsrDDtYfJg4We2J6bk2pujP2blTsfrCXJp-DfHn2v5HHytphu0UBlzOaNl4nyhLzQzVvdzwD9ob2X5l39vt5TURkeYR0QLdEpUDxE03iMJCT-/s320/Foot+Steps+Oct+04_003.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227526974166954386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">From Fort Leavenworth to Camp Lockett: two military reservations separated by 1600 miles and 78 years of Buffalo Soldier History. If their story began at Fort Leavenworth, then history will record that it ended at Camp Lockett. What happened in between is the responsibility of every abel-bodied member of the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association to tell.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Sincerely,</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Trooper Ron Jones</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter - 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">bik4lif@ca.rr.com<br /></span></span><div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div></div></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-14095801176621478432008-07-24T19:06:00.000-07:002008-07-27T10:31:58.341-07:00Col Charles Young in Sequoia National Park<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYriGGSWS-ldLaWKt6TciLzk4gHRUOZU-1-LlbiDnOBWR2Snja45xoZlf_mlHtUK_DsTmsl06tHaQQQD-gMEThhqSuT5-o2nohBGRJg9H4BwVsVdg9JOirPS8QkxIfTHSvqUDkUEFeEGX_/s320/Col+Young.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226770605977171922" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">105</span></span> years ago, then captain, Charles Young and a Company of Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry Regiment spent the summer working in Sequoia National Park, building the roads that opened the top of the mountain to tourism. On August 28, 2004 a Giant Sequoia Redwood was dedicated in the name of the Black Cavalry Officer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During a very private ceremony guest from the National Park Service, the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, Vision Quest Buffalo Soldiers from youth camps in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and the Fred D. Jones Youth Center in Hesperia, California along with Buffalo Soldier reenactors from Northern California, stood in silence as descendants of Col. Charles Young thanked park officials and unveiled the wooden plaque located at the base of a mighty Sequoia Redwood.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tree is located on Bear Hill Trail, just off the main road to Moro Rock. The same road built by Col. Young and the Buffalo Soldiers so many years ago. As you park your car, near the famous “Auto Log,” and head towards the trail, his tree is just out of sight. The footpath has an uphill grade and Col. Young’s tree is about 200 yards away at the end of the walk. The mountain air has a fresh clean smell and the scent of pine is everywhere. The path is covered with a light dusting of fine dirt and the canopy from the surrounding Ponderosa Pines and Douglas Ferns provides a blanket of shading that keeps the air temperature comfortable. As you make your way up the trail it takes a slight dogleg turn to the right and then you see it. At the end of the path stands a mature Sequoia Redwood. The symbolism is unmistakable. A solitary Sequoia Redwood, surrounded by many other tall pine trees …one cannot help but think of Col. Charles Young and his Troopers from the 9th Cavalry Regiment. Buffalo Soldiers one and all. They were true Trailblazers,</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI83-QQb04TqQJO84sw5r8IGTKPfcrhJRFe4ZN2czBFh_7SoN_OaQivNOXk3YEwouQmK7Z6l348Y91Xi68FTEqQWH_KP4GrxbtP7PeBqyG-1v4dhaFudzNCtfrS1LMLjaiJInX0w2ckI5H/s320/Col+Young+Tree+ceremony+004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226773715135887746" /><div style="text-align: justify;">in every sense of the word.<br /></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-90096619416951100292008-07-23T21:03:00.000-07:002008-07-27T10:33:47.185-07:00Eagle Court of Honor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG1PJ9yk-XZdw36hzpA6H0_P4RBmhw8bS39lW4PfXhd-ANGbDQIEaloKSx6DGfvLZMxfuJndAl4hQWcATF4XLPg8kyCCSoSIA_ay9E8ASvydk59FNaPKp8i0r_g4ALzU3ddugwdOWSyjQ/s1600-h/IMGP3510.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG1PJ9yk-XZdw36hzpA6H0_P4RBmhw8bS39lW4PfXhd-ANGbDQIEaloKSx6DGfvLZMxfuJndAl4hQWcATF4XLPg8kyCCSoSIA_ay9E8ASvydk59FNaPKp8i0r_g4ALzU3ddugwdOWSyjQ/s320/IMGP3510.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226429948402473298" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">An Eagle Scout!</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">By Trooper Ron Jones</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">What goes into making an Eagle Scout? Take two heaping cups of a father’s guidance and a mother’s love. Add in, support from his family, his school and his community. Mix in a Scout Master’s leadership with the right amount of goals to help the scout learn responsibility, planning, and organizational skills and then reinforce, in him, a strong belief in God and Country. Wrap all of this with the twelve points of the Scout’s Law: A Scout is – Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. Lastly, since a man is only as good as his word, ask him to take the following oath:<br /></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Simmer over time with patience, tolerance, love and understanding. If you did everything just right, you might end up with an Eagle Scout. The worst thing that can happen... you’ll end up with a well-rounded young man.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a rare individual who has the dedication, the drive and the work ethic necessary to become an Eagle Scout. We, (members of the Los Angeles Chapter, of the 9th & 10th Horse Cavalry Association) had the distinct honor and privilege to be among the many VIP guests who were present at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony for Matthew T. Seymour, as he received the Eagle Scout - Badge and Medal. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Clifford and Varnessa Seymour got it right when it came to their son Matthew. They deserve to be very proud of their son and his accomplishment. But when you know that Matthew’s grandfather is Trooper Andrew Aaron, one of the last of the surviving WWII Buffalo Soldiers, you almost want to say, ...should we expect anything less!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next time you see a Scout, please, give him some words of encouragement. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Congratulations, Matthew! You and young men like you, give me a positive feeling about our future.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">There was one other thing that I wanted to mention about the Boy Scouts. If you want to know what kind of a man a Boy Scout grows up to be, you don’t have to look any further than to the men in our own organization. Here are just a few: Trooper Andrew Isaacs - Boy Scout, Trooper Bobby McDonald - Boy Scout, Trooper Andrew Aaron - Boy Scout, Trooper Lennister Williams - Boy Scout, Trooper Fred Cartha - Boy Scout and my father, Trooper Frederick Douglass Jones was a Boy Scout. A childhood friend of my father’s and also a Boy Scout was John Fox. On December 26th 1944, in Italy, Lieutenant Fox (92nd INF. DIV.) was 29 years old when he called artillery fire on his own position that was being overran with Germans. His actions, while saving his regiment, cost him his life and he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1982. After further review, Lt. Fox had his medal upgraded, in January 1997, to the Congressional Medal of Honor. What type of a man does a Boy Scout grow up to be? A Buffalo Soldier. It’s not just coincidental that both groups’ initials are ‘B’ and ‘S’.</span><br /></div></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-23659089892935472772007-02-22T22:11:00.000-08:002007-02-22T22:45:17.655-08:00NAACP CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY WADDELL IV<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMiKHpsa2cZEGvmfcdNE1VNZeF5Ze2zRRrKUQeEJlWyKnGtEdQFSSmS7xws9d6OvTNC6tkYFlmK15idlfqPb9JGmWj2Y3nR7RVRubVUzmXkmsCgZKKCkyGKWNNMqKHJdKnbq27Ka2ui-u/s1600-h/Trooper+Waddell+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034614847169128114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMiKHpsa2cZEGvmfcdNE1VNZeF5Ze2zRRrKUQeEJlWyKnGtEdQFSSmS7xws9d6OvTNC6tkYFlmK15idlfqPb9JGmWj2Y3nR7RVRubVUzmXkmsCgZKKCkyGKWNNMqKHJdKnbq27Ka2ui-u/s320/Trooper+Waddell+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: HTTP://WWW.NAACP.ORG/NEWS/PRESS/2007-02-09/INDEX.HTML<br /></span><br />Feb. 9, 2007<br /><br />Dr. William Henry Waddell IV<br /><br />The NAACP celebrates the life of Dr. William Henry Waddell IV, the nation’s second-oldest known Buffalo Soldier, a pioneer in the field of veterinary medicine and a lifetime NAACP member. He died January 30 in Hawaii at the age of 98.<br /><br />A man of many “firsts,” Waddell was born in South Richmond, Va. in 1908. He studied veterinary medicine at Lincoln University and passed the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine in 1935, becoming the first licensed black veterinarian in the state. Waddell later co-founded the Tuskegee Institute School of Veterinary Medicine, where he served as the school’s first faculty member and worked with George Washington Carver on peanut oil therapy. Waddell was also the first black member of the American Veterinary Medicine Association and the first black veterinarian to practice in West Virginia.<br /><br />From 1941 to 1946 Waddell served the U.S. 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments of the United States Army as a Buffalo Soldier. The Buffalo Soldiers were originally established by Congress as the first peacetime all-black regiments in the United States Army, but later operated during wartime. Waddell served abroad during the Italian campaign of World War II and was later wounded in action in North Africa.<br />Waddell was the second oldest of two surviving Buffalo Soldiers, and the last member of the 9th and 10th Calvary Regiments. He continued to attend Buffalo Soldier reunions each year up until his death. Joe Barnes of San Francisco is said to be the oldest known and sole remaining Buffalo Soldier.<br /><br />After the war, Waddell opened a veterinary clinic in Tuskegee, Ala. and continued his affiliation with Tuskegee University. He was honored for his contributions to the veterinary school in 2004.<br /><br />Among his many honors, Waddell received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Lincoln University and a lifetime achievement award at the National Veterinary Association meeting in Honolulu last year. An annual scholarship named in his honor was recently instituted by the NAACP Honolulu Branch.<br />Waddell is remembered as a wise and exceptionally kind man who encouraged youth to seek knowledge and education. He is survived by a host of loving relatives and family friends and will be sorely missed.<br /><br />Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Photo: <a href="http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7pfhi/ribuffalosoldiersmc/">http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7pfhi/ribuffalosoldiersmc/</a></span></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-44905556282860708392007-02-21T11:48:00.000-08:002007-02-21T12:32:26.226-08:001908-2007 William Waddell, Buffalo Soldier<div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGT4sZMNrwZTnuXAvKV84otyoIcvPeO9HsRRBieNldMk6ZiTRXz6xQ2ih4IEkmyl5pts5QxliVLmuZww7fUYLhFoJBPBgEtJn8Y8i7wQ1BAtyiiJ821SFLQolyPl44WURKgG4KQuwHtxm/s1600-h/Trooper+Waddell.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034081133058090658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 156px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px" height="250" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGT4sZMNrwZTnuXAvKV84otyoIcvPeO9HsRRBieNldMk6ZiTRXz6xQ2ih4IEkmyl5pts5QxliVLmuZww7fUYLhFoJBPBgEtJn8Y8i7wQ1BAtyiiJ821SFLQolyPl44WURKgG4KQuwHtxm/s320/Trooper+Waddell.jpg" width="167" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">By Will Hoover, Advertiser Staff Writer</span></div><div align="justify"><br />William Henry Waddell — one of only two surviving Buffalo Soldiers — died at age 98 Tuesday evening at his home in Ka'a'awa.<br /><br />Waddell, who retired in Hawai'i in 1972 with his wife Lottie, served from 1941 through 1946 with the 9th and 10th Cavalry during the Italian campaign of World War II.<br /><br />The term "Buffalo Soldier" is one of pride that harks back to the period immediately following the Civil War when depleted Union troops were, by act of Congress, strengthened for the first time to include six regiments of black soldiers. </div><div align="justify"><br />The term became synonymous with all black regiments that served during subsequent conflicts including the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War, after which the unit was discontinued. </div><div align="justify"><br />But Waddell had been a trailblazer before entering the war. In 1935, he made history by becoming the first black to be granted a license to practice veterinary medicine in Pennsylvania after he passed the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. </div><div align="justify"><br />Waddell, who was born in South Richmond, Va., in 1908, also was the first black to practice veterinary medicine in West Virginia and the first black member of the American Veterinary Medicine Association. He was further honored in 2003 as a co-founder of the historic Tuskegee Institute School of Veterinary Medicine. </div><div align="justify"><br />"I think he was a great humanitarian," said his daughter Kathryn Waddell Takara, a professor at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. "He had a kind heart. </div><div align="justify"><br />"He was a terribly hard worker who came up from nothing. He's my hero." </div><div align="justify"><br />In 2004 ,Waddell was awarded a doctor of science honorary degree from the Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. </div><div align="justify"><br />Through it all, Waddell remained a man of warmth and humor. His autobiography, "People are the Funniest Animals," was published in 1978. He also authored several other books. </div><div align="justify"><br />"He was a grand, grand man," said retired UH professor Miles Jackson, a neighbor of Waddell's. "We all looked upon him as a sage. He had always had positive words of wisdom to share with people. </div><div align="justify"><br />"He had a fantastic memory. We really enjoyed his company." </div><div align="justify"><br />To those who knew him, he was an inspiration who will be greatly missed. </div><div align="justify"><br />"The sad state of affairs is that we began February, Black History Month, with the loss of a national treasure," said Alphonso Braggs, president of Hawai'i NAACP. </div><div align="justify"><br />"He's the reason that many of us are able to pursue our goals, our dreams and our aspirations. And right up to the end, he was still being that inspirational leader and mentor that he is very well known for. </div><div align="justify"><br />"The irony is that at this time last year, Dr. Waddell was going around the Island bases with us celebrating Black History Month. So there's going to be that absence this year." </div><div align="justify"><br />Yet, Braggs and Jackson both praised Waddell for giving those who follow in his footsteps the courage and motivation to continue to carry the message of inspiration and hope forward.<br />"We can only hope that we are able to live long enough to leave a legacy as great as what he's left us," Braggs said. </div><div align="justify"><br />At a time when many young people are having trouble understanding the civil rights struggles of the '50s and '60s, he said Waddell's legacy stands as a beacon of light. </div><div align="justify"><br />Already that legacy has grown. On Jan. 13 — less than a month before his death — the Honolulu Hawai'i branch of the NAACP awarded its first scholarship in Waddell's name, Braggs said. </div><div align="justify"></div><br />"We really want to perpetuate what he has done. And that's one way to remind folks," Braggs said.<br /><br />His wife preceded him in death. Aside from his daughter, survivors include two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.<br /><br />Photo from the Buffalo Soldier Research Museum<br />http://buffalosoldiersresearchmuseum.org/research/books/waddell.htm <br /><br />This article was published on February 4, 2007Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-48083442654952600062007-02-13T13:39:00.000-08:002007-02-08T07:35:34.225-08:00A New Play about the Buffalo Soldiers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq71z9kPeG7NZI9HBs9UXHQeumL9WpxyPfQh2TVOD0VzTU1MwY3eDpALfOnqqo8J7icEscCaGp37DVk3puXjlYUx8oLpnhBZbmsSb8Wru8eibvj3NBliHCIUUWmtJBE78e0esjfkytUiPm/s1600-h/BSflyer-sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031145364857472498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq71z9kPeG7NZI9HBs9UXHQeumL9WpxyPfQh2TVOD0VzTU1MwY3eDpALfOnqqo8J7icEscCaGp37DVk3puXjlYUx8oLpnhBZbmsSb8Wru8eibvj3NBliHCIUUWmtJBE78e0esjfkytUiPm/s320/BSflyer-sm.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#336666;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>Buffalo Soldiers, A Tale Lost</strong></span><br /></span></span><a title="PDF" onclick="window.open('http://level9enterprises.com//index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=12','win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" href="http://level9enterprises.com//index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=12" target="_blank"></a><br /><br /><em>Please note: For tickets to the Berkeley shows at the Julia Morgan Center (Feb 15 - 17), please call the CBON Ticket Line at (925) 798 -1300. See below for other ticket information. </em><em></em><br /><br />A powerful, eighteen hundred period theatrical release: Buffalo Soldiers, A Tale Lost triangles the lives, struggles, and conflicts of the Negro Cavalry, Army Officials, and fearless Indian Warriors, while a lone courageous soldier risks his life to convince his comrades that fighting in a war where there are no victors is wrong.<br /><br />This classy, new, original production breathes life into a forgotten, but crucial chapter in American history. Through dramatic encounters and action filled plots; Buffalo Soldiers, A Tale Lost, displays a clash between three cultures... The White Officers, who are steadfast in their superiority, the Indians, who are vibrant in their refusal to sign a peace treaty, and the Negro soldiers, whose complexities range from house slave to field slave, from heroes to killers, from proud service to insubordination.<br /><br />The characters in the play comprise an all-male cast that consists of sixteen different roles. Derived from actual events. It's intense, it's original, it's powerful, Buffalo Soldiers, A Tale Lost seeks to break new ground in American theatre.<br /><br />Dates:<br />February 15, 2007 - 8:00 PM<br />February 16, 2007 - 8:00 PM<br />February 17, 2007 - 8:00 PM<br /><br />Location:<br /><br />Julia Morgan Center for the Arts2640 College Ave., Berkeley, CA Adults $30, Children $15, Student and Senior $25Call the CBON Ticket Line: (925) 798-1300<br /><br />Dates:<br /><br />February 21, 2007 - 8:00 PM Through<br />February 24, 2007 - 8:00 PM<br /><br />Location:<br /><br />Montgomery Theater 271 S. Market Street, San Jose, CATrooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-59293136188158764572006-12-17T21:07:00.000-08:002006-12-25T16:35:30.998-08:00Breaking bread together for the HolidaysMembers of the Los Angeles Chapter of the 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, gather for their annual Buffalo Soldier informal luncheon and family get-to-gather.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x9sKfBuGlXxKwOaDzDKnp1SFzPr2VYCpJmWouu-g3bGqB6Gr52LvKRfCXlD_K_QpWSZup6CTlJVGFCqcUSxgfxAaMRyrwoKh-Y96IV5DICxMRmwJfKrHJewyQVza93Q9fR03ZqwnSDoq/s1600-h/Christmas+picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012359081186376754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x9sKfBuGlXxKwOaDzDKnp1SFzPr2VYCpJmWouu-g3bGqB6Gr52LvKRfCXlD_K_QpWSZup6CTlJVGFCqcUSxgfxAaMRyrwoKh-Y96IV5DICxMRmwJfKrHJewyQVza93Q9fR03ZqwnSDoq/s400/Christmas+picture.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Pictured above, from left to right seated, are: Trooper Robert McDaniel, World War II veteran who served with the 9th Cavalry regiment stationed at Fort Riley and for a time was a member of headquarter staff and worked for Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Sr., Trooper Alfred Evans, WWII veteran who served with the 10th Cavalry regiment, Trooper John Tull, WWII veteran who served with the 10th Cavalry regiment, Trooper Andrew Isaacs, WWII veteran with the 10th Cavalry regiment and is the newly elected President of the L.A. Chapter, Trooper Eugene Lewis, WWII veteran, 28th Cavalry regiment 'C' Troop, stationed at Camp Lockett in California and outgoing L.A. Chapter President, Trooper Andrew Aaron, Korean War veteran and a member of the 24th Infantry regiment.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Second row: Nathaniel Hosea, WWII veteran and a member of the Mondfort Point Marines, Retired U.S. Army Colonel Franklin Henderson, past National President of the 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, Trooper Fred Cartha, WWII veteran, served with the 10th Cavalry regiment and is this year's recipient of the Los Angeles Chapter Buffalo Soldier "Trooper of the Year" award, Trooper Phillip Wilkes Fixico, descendant of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts, Trooper Jean Lewis, US Army veteran of the Cold War era, Trooper Gwen Jones.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The back five: Trooper Charles Allen, Korean War veteran and a member of the 24th Infantry regiment, Trooper Erich Hicks, Vietnam War veteran, Trooper James Cooper, WWII veteran, served in the 24th Infantry regiment and was a driver in Patton's Red Ball Express, Trooper Walter Brady, Iraqi War veteran, Trooper Lennister Williams, Vietnam War veteran and retired Sgt. Maj U.S. Army.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">During WWII and the Korean War, the Buffalo Soldier regiments consisted of the 24th and 25th Infantries and the 9th, 10th, 27th and 28th Cavalries. The cavalry regiments made up the 2nd Cavalry Division which was deactivated in 1944. When President Truman's Executive Order 9981 was fully implemented in 1951, bringing an end to segregation in the arm forces, it closed the door on the history that was the Buffalo Soldiers of the segregated U.S. Army. These men represent the last of the original Buffalo Soldiers who served in those segregated regiments.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZpwx_8-_vpVVsQ1pf7i6uIpCFApE6gJXk79qTW78P3WGL8oQ3mtt_RYMwIxSRv0yjmyaENxoFpwl2blDrkU7iXKUIvyDRQlVk6rBQqovhq5hoqwJkS620iyUd4NbMeZgXjAjVnXHwKRB/s1600-h/Christmas+picture.jpg"></a><br /><div></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-56381264989688058672006-11-21T16:52:00.000-08:002006-11-22T12:16:51.308-08:00Recent 2006 Veterans Day Buffalo Soldier Public Appearances<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5725.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5725.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hollywood Forest Lawn 2006 Veterans Day Program. Seated from left to right are: Trooper Phil Wilkes Fixico, Trooper Lennister Williams, Trooper Charles Allen, Trooper Andrew Aaron and 90 year old, Trooper Robert McDaniel.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5678.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5678.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div>Trooper Andrew Aaron (24th Infantry - Korean War vetran) is interviewed by a local news station.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5735.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5735.jpg" border="0" /></a> Trooper Lennister Williams with local Los Angeles News Anchor, Stan Chambers, who was this years Master of Ceremony for the Veterans Day program.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5746.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5746.jpg" border="0" /></a> Trooper Robert McDaniel (9th Cavalry WWII veteran) with Stan Chambers<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5740.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5740.jpg" border="0" /></a> Los Angeles Chapter 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association members with local area scouts and scout leaders<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5791.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5791.jpg" border="0" /></a> Trooper Andrew Isaacs and Trooper Fred Cartha (both 10th Cavalry - WWII veterans) with the Mayor of Palm Springs, Ron Oden just before the start of the Palm Springs Veterans Day parade.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5765.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5765.jpg" border="0" /></a> Trooper Fred Cartha with the mounted unit from Ft Irwin<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5762.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5762.jpg" border="0" /></a> Troopers Carth and Isaacs with Pearl Harbor survivors<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/Flyover.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/Flyover.jpg" border="0" /></a> Spectators at the Palm Springs Veterans Day parade were treated by a flyover of a F-17 Night Hawk stealth fighter.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/IMG_5788.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/400/IMG_5788.jpg" border="0" /></a> Looking down the parade route in Palm Springs just before the start of the parade.Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568778486312148495.post-23563638707833353742006-11-20T20:15:00.000-08:002006-11-22T12:16:16.253-08:0089 Year Old WWII Buffalo Soldier Willie Jones Prepares to Retire Again<span style="font-size:78%;">Photo By: Lui Kit Wong/The News Tribune</span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/1600/11341/Willie%20Jones.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7695/679782530067400/200/629885/Willie%20Jones.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">William Jones, better known as Mr. Jones, spent 22 years in the Army as a Buffalo Soldier before retiring as a master sergeant. After 54 years in Tacoma as the man who has everything, he’s ready to retire again. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />I came across an article on Mr. Jones while doing some research on the Buffalo Soldiers. In the article a phone number was listed so I called it. What a pleasant surprise it was when I heard a voice answer, "Mr. Jones!" After I explained that my name was Jones too, and that I am a member of the 9th 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association in Los Angeles, I spent a very pleasant time talking with Mr. Jones and his daughter Lia.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />Mr. Jones is looking forward to retiring, but he'll keep busy with his 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Museum. He has one of the country's largest collection of out of print books about the Buffalo Soldiers.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />Mr. Jones served in the 10th Cavalry at Camp Lockett and possible knew my father along with Trooper George Poston (deceased) and our current Chapter PresidentTrooper Eugene Lewis.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />To find out more about Trooper Willie Jones click on this link:</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/columnists/merryman/story/6216720p-5431158c.html">http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/columnists/merryman/story/6216720p-5431158c.html</a></div>Trooper Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10524881558864437662noreply@blogger.com0