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February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020

We were beaten, we were tear-gassed. I thought I was going to die on this bridge. But somehow and some way, God almighty helped me here. We cannot give up now. We cannot give in. We must keep the faith, keep our eyes on the prize. – John Lewis

October 16, 1995 – touched on historical and social justice issues facing America and urged the men in attendance to take a pledge to love each other as brothers and to improve the conditions of their communities.

Sergeant William De Armond, Serg. Co. I, 5 US Inf., Indian Wars, September 9, 1874

Sergeant De Armond was cited for “Heroism and Gallantry in Action” and awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his service during the Indian Wars. He was assigned to a supply train that was attacked by a large Indian War party as it emerged from a canyon on the Upper Washita River. The supply train was taking desperately needed supplies to General Miles and his 650-man force. Though vastly out numbered, Sergeant De Armond and his fellow soldiers fought valliantly and suffered many casualties over the 3-day loany battle that ensued.

Sergeant William De Armond was 36 years onld when he gave his life in service to our country. He is interred at the San Antonio national Cemetery.

March 24, 1912 – April 20, 2010

Icon of an era that changed the way America saw and treated its citizens of African heritage.

“Forgotten Battalion of WWII”

First African American All-Female Battalion

Comprised of 855 women and commanded by the first female African American commissioned officer, Maj. Charity Adams, who would later retire as Lt. Colonel Charity Adams.

The 6888 was the first all-female battlion to be shipped over seas into a combat zone. They stepped off the ship in the midst of an air raid when they arrived in the European Theater of Operations in 1945.

Pictured: 6888 Marching in Birmingham, England 1945

The 761st was awarded 11 Silver Stars, 70  Bronze Stars (4 with Clusters), 296 Purple Hearts (8 with Clusters), 4 Campaign Battle Stars, 3 Certificates of Merit, and 8 Battlefield Commissions. The Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism was later awarded to the 761st Tank Battalion in 1978.

A Debt of Honor

There were 433 Medals of Honor awarded by all brances of the military during WWII, but not a single one went to any of the blacks that served in it until over 50 years later. The reason was racism. Finally, in 1997 President Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to Lt. Vernon Baker, age 77. He was the only one, of just 7 total black WWII Medal of Honor recepients still living. The other 6 received theirs posthumously that day, including the 761st Bn. SSgt. Ruben Rivers.

Pictured: US Army photo 761st Bn.
Photo Courtesy: The Patton Museum, Fort Knox, KY

Ft. Concho’s Living History Group of Buffalo Soldiers recreates Company A of the 10th Cavalry, an all-black regiment that protected the Southwest and Great Plains in the 19th Century. Tradition says that the Comanche gave the Buffalo Soldiers their name.