CELEBRATING THE FAMILIES OF THE MIGHTY BUFFALO SOLDIERS

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[00:02:32]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Thank you for [music] watching The World Community Magazine's Hour of Power live on Facebook with your host Edward McQueen and April Garner Davis.

[00:03:43]Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Welcome to the program WCM Live this evening. And um uh we have something in store for you this evening.

[00:03:53]some information, some uh historical information and some uh very good current information that um as you saw on our promotion for those of you who have seen it that said you're celebrating the local legacies of the Buffalo Soldiers and we're going to start by asking you know you know who knows what the Buffalo Soldiers are but here we're we're going to be here to kind of start things off with you and we have a couple of guests but First, I just want to um to to just give you a little just a couple of sentences of background of where the um the name Buffalo Soldiers came from. Uh according to the to the Buffalo Soldier National Museum, the name originated from the Cheyenne Warriors uh in the winter of 1877 and Cheyenne Indian um uh uh uh set of of human beings. uh the translation being quote unquote wild buffalo. Um and that was quoted quoted that as the beginning of the word uh buffalo soldiers because the buffalo's uh the wild buffalo I guess their parents and the two uh were not that wild for for the uh um the the soldiers that we're going to talk about but their their bravery. Okay. So, uh, before we get any more further, I just want to, uh, if we can just show you a clip of, um, what we we're going to be talking about this evening and, um, and then we'll get on to there and we'll just go full speed and all you just sit back and get your, um, consumption of of the Buffalo Soldiers. You're you're going to like all the information, especially the events that just occurred. Um, it's a new revelation to some of the people, especially our our youth. Okay. So, let's do that.

[00:05:59]Okay. So, we we're we're trying to work our magic to it to get this thing going, but that's okay. Uh anyway, we'll um Okay, here we go.

[00:06:11]And just just a slight video of of uh what we're going to be talking about.

[00:06:15]>> The Buffalo Soldiers were African-American troops that started in 1866 after the Civil War. They served in segregated units tasked with protecting settlers, building infrastructure, and combating Native American tribes during westward expansion. They earned their nickname from the tribes they fought, who likened their courage and strength to the buffalo. Despite facing racism and harsh conditions, the Buffalo Soldiers became renowned for their discipline and bravery. They also played key roles in later conflicts, including the SpanishAmerican War and World Wars 1 and two. The Buffalo Soldier Regiments were disbanded in 1951 when the US Army was desegregated following President Truman's executive order, but these men will [clears throat] be remembered forever. Tune in next time for more [music] 30 History. The Buff Okay.

[00:07:10]Uh, hope I didn't tap it off too quickly there.

[00:07:15]But, uh, again, I was I was [laughter] I was reminded to tell you exactly who I am. So, I'm McQueen for those of you who first time tuning in. Okay. And um we we're going to be uh um as as we move further on, we're going to be uh asking the audience to post a question, the comments, and to share whatever you want to say about the broadcast. Okay. All right. So, uh I'd like to uh introduce you to two people who who became uh by way of their activities dealing with the the um Buffalo Soldiers and uh their research. I'll use the word research for a lack of a better word, I guess, on I'm celebrating this wonderful group of people called the Buffalo Soldiers. And so now I'd like to introduce you to Miss um Brenda Bankhead uh and uh Mr. Orton Bellamy. Uh both were very instrumental in producing a fantastic uh uh celebration over the weekend. And that's all we got to to to think to to conclude that uh they they need to come on the broadcast and and let and let the rest of the the the region anyway and the nation know about uh what they're celebrating and then what you know while you're celebrating something you know you yourself you start investigating history. So uh we'll start with Miss uh Mr. Banghehead. Uh how are you doing today?

[00:08:40]>> I'm doing fine. Thank you so much.

[00:08:42]>> All right. And Mr. Mr. who's no uh >> us uh you know you're no stranger uh and and neither actually neither miss we had her before one time once before we couldn't get her video I mean her uh yeah camera working so but we did hear of the wonderful things that she will still engage in and um miss uh Miss Bangad my understanding um without further ado you can give a little background but I do I want to say this I know you're a veteran >> you're a veteran And I am a proud woman veteran. I'm a proud veteran of the women's army corps also.

[00:09:23]Um I had to say that I'm the women's army corps. Um um Alton and I was in church one Sunday and he brought to my attention we need to do something about the Buffalo soaps.

[00:09:35]So that's how the program began. So we got together and we discussed what we could do to make people aware of the Buffalo soldiers that were actually from the area, this area and the surrounding communities. And we did research, we reached out to the families and the rest is history. We started, we spoke to the church, uh, Chesterfield Church. My church was definitely in support of that. And we started preparing for the program. We found five Buffalo soldiers from this area. So proud of them. Five Buffalo soldiers and from this area. Um and there are uh Mr. Floyd Bellamy, uh Mr. Daniel Bellamy is actually from the Longs area. Um Luke Chestnut and Corporal Fred Hickman is from Conway and we had a private first class uh Frank Moore Jr. We acknowledge their families.

[00:10:34]Um and we also we spoke on the activities what they did when they was in the military because that at first in World War I uh in Civil War prior to 186 um prior to the Civil War uh I'm sorry prior to World War I this Buffalo soldiers didn't have weapons to defend themselves. They was also mostly fighting off the Indians so the stage coaches and all could travel through the west. But in World War I and World War II, these notice most of them was a part of the 92nd Infantry Division. 9 Infantry Division that was a black infantry division, totally black and the ones who went to uh Italy and they fought in Italy. One of them was not one, which is Mr. Um, Mr. Fred Hickman, he was in the with the 24th regiment and he was a bugle player. So, his job was very, very important. See, the bugle players, they are they send signals out. They communicate. They tell you when to wake up at their blow at the bugle. When you wake up in the morning, you have lunch and when to go to bed at night. So, his job was very important.

[00:11:52]Uh, Mr. Hickman also, but the other ones were frontline. uh infantry men. They was in regiments. So we came and we wanted to do something for the community, make the community aware of them because there were so many people who wasn't aware who the Buffalo Soldiers were. And we felt uh that if they knew their past, the Buffalo Soldiers history, who they were and their history, that would make them feel proud of their relatives. And that's what we did. We reached out and we researched and we spoke of the history of the Buffalo soldiers, what they did in the community, what they did uh how they suffered and the segregated army discrimination, what they endured, but they were so fierce fighters, bravery.

[00:12:40]And when we explain this to them, you can see the difference in the some of the family members faces just hearing how important that their loved ones were. That's what was so exciting.

[00:12:51]That's what I was so excited about. And as you know, we also reached out to one of my friends which with the National um Buffalo Social Soldiers Association.

[00:13:05]He's an officer and he reached out and he brought in with him uh 59 members of the National Buffalo Soldiers Association and they came down. This was something that's never happened in this community. never happened. And I will never forget the way they came in on Saturday. It was so beautiful, so organized when they came in and they were just thankful that they could be a part of this celebration because this is our first one.

[00:13:36]>> I say our first I don't know what >> Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Uh so and uh um my understanding and um was that um uh uh yeah Mr. Ardon Bellamy Arton uh had some u some some interactions and some very important comments he he I think he wants to share uh with us also regarding that.

[00:14:03]>> Okay. Uh well my first uh because one of my additional I when I was stationed in career in 1978.

[00:14:10]I was selected as the equal opportunity race relations officer and I went I had to go to 30 days of training there in Yangzan career and and I what we did was part of that we we was trained on cultural history. So uh I took courses on that's why I was exposed to the history of the 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, uh the Suez Indians coach talk of the Japanese infantry and various other different groups that contribute to United States military. So, part of the uh different diversity groups in the military that fought in the military. And my first the person that uh that locally I discovered was a Buffalo Soldier. I had a conversation with let me get this correctly. I think Miss Louise Moore, the wife of the wife of uh Frank Moore Jr. Uh we we had I had a conversation with her one day and she showed me a photograph of her husband. She said, "My husband was in was in the war, World War II." And I noticed the photograph. He had a buffalo on it. Had a buffalo patch. And I said, "Ma'am, your husband your husband was a buffalo soldier." She said, she said, "Son, what is that?" So I explained to her, "What was a buffalo soldier?" She said, "He never talked about he was in combat in Italy for about about 14 months." And she never he never had that conversation. So that was the first one. Then I had a conversation later on with my with my uncle Daniel D.

[00:15:47]Bellamy uh who also was a Buffalo Soldier in uh in Italy. So uh then I start we started doing Brend and I started doing other research and we discovered the other f the other three individuals that were Buffalo soldiers from the community. So we came together and say okay let's do something educational so we can pass this history on to the next generation after generation after generation. So we that's the reason why we had the event and it was overwhelming. I think there was something like over two and Bren and I we were laughing about it that it's something the military when you do any type of operation you look at strength and weakness and what we call a action review report. She wrote a splendid report the AAR.

[00:16:37]So great job there Brenda. So that's part of our military training. And then we discovered had over 200. So, and also the com it's been overwhelming the comments, the positive comments on Facebook about the family members saying, "Well, I was not aware my family member, my uncle, my grandfather, my great-grandfather was served in the military in combat in Italy in the South Pacific with the 24th. So, and then with this conversation and with this educational opportunity that passes, as I said, generation after generation, we early on that we discovered and the last three days we discovered four more. And I will read them off right quick. And Edward Gore from Bucksport, South Carolina. His daughter name is Deborah Austin from Bucksport. I had a conversation with her this morning. Uh my cousin John W. Wilson Jr., he was with the 371st Infant Division, 92nd Infantry Division in Italy.

[00:17:41]Uh Thomas W. Wilson, he was 24th regiment in the South Pacific. And we need your assistance. Anyone who's listening into this uh listen to the show, we need your assistance in identifying John W. Watson. He's from Lor South Carolina. He served with the 371st Infantry Regiment 92nd Air Division in Italy. So, let me provide you my phone number, area code 843. The number is 2227771.

[00:18:15]Please reach out to me and we would definitely like to meet with the family so we can recognize John, Mr. John W.

[00:18:23]Watson.

[00:18:24]you you're going to get some responses from the Watsons because they almost originated Loris fans.

[00:18:29]>> That's right. That's right. So, yes, they a lot of Watsons and Lor. So, we like to reach out to the Watson fans. Please call me and we like to recognize Mr. John W. Watson from Louis, South Carolina, 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division, Italy.

[00:18:50]>> Okay. you yeah you're going to get some from the from the Watson family in Loris. So something for that for that Artton u so uh you know you you know for y'all to put on put this thing on actually you must have been very passionate about it Miss Bang head uh in fact this is not the first time that you put on something regarding veterans uh but but the first time I guess for the Buffalo uh Buffalo Soldiers you know we had them coming from near and far right from um the photos that that were provided uh that they were came in motorcycles Um, so te tell me uh so uh how far what's the farthest did based on your conversation that that they came from?

[00:19:34]>> Uh the farthest they came from was Orlando, Florida.

[00:19:38]>> Orlando, Florida.

[00:19:39]>> Yes. That's where the ambassador is at.

[00:19:41]He's down in Orlando, Florida. And then we had them come um they came out of Raleigh, North Carolina.

[00:19:48]>> Right.

[00:19:48]>> They North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina, Florence, and uh Charleston, South Carolina.

[00:19:59]Now, I had planned for this to be a one-time thing, but Alton twisted my arm.

[00:20:07]>> That's right.

[00:20:08]>> So, it seems like this may be an annual thing. So, what I'm going to ask is there if there's other family members out there who think or may think that they u loved ones could have been a Buffalo Soldier, please contact us as soon as possible uh so we can work towards researching the information and preparing if you would like for them to be recognized and your family to be recognized next year. Please contact us as soon as possible, whoever you are out there. And if you're not sure, still contact us and we'll do the uh research to make sure I I I I find it in a little bit in awe to see uh how patriotic you know these these people are. You saw all the flags that were being raised and you know and and u knowing that uh some of the inequities that had existed uh for for during their careers in the army and after especially after they got back as veterans. Yeah. You know, you you have to not question their passion for it, but uh it's something to I guess uh not celebrate, but it's something to look at and uh uh investigate, for lack of a better word, uh about their experiences, you know, uh as Buffalo soldiers and and as black soldiers coming back from places like Vietnam and um uh the Gulf War, uh you know, you come back to certain things that um don't appear to be equitable uh for for your uh uh production of life. If I if I can say that >> it's a difference when you go places like that. The life that you've lived over there, it can never be you you will never be the same.

[00:21:50]>> You will never be the same. And it's something about military in the military family, we can communicate. So a lot of times what happened even with the uh Buffalo soldiers, the World War I, World War II veterans, when they came home, they didn't talk about it because it was so it was so detrimental to them. They didn't want to talk about it. So, the families never knew about it. We had both Vietnam veterans who had two Purple Hearts right near I knew them. They never told me about it. I would have done something and recognizing that the community would have done something, but they didn't talk about it. So what I ask is that we come together and we acknowledge our veterans also and the Buffalo Soldiers and do what we can do to help them because a lot of times they won't talk to family members but they'll talk to other veterans. I assist a lot of veterans with getting benefits from the military from the veterans or VA and um they'll talk to me but they won't talk to their wives and that's because I can relate to them. I am too also a Vietnam era veteran. I was in Korea young son. I did I served my country too over 21 years. So I've done mine so they can communicate with me a little bit different than they can communicate like with their wife about their military experience.

[00:23:10]Yeah.

[00:23:10]>> Well, as Render was saying is that uh uh my uh uh my cousin uh my cousin uh Daniel Bellamy, only thing he would say that uh he he went through basic training at Fort Jackson uh advanced training at Fort Wuka and then he was deployed to uh Italy, Naples. Once he arrived in Naples, uh he only think he would say that he had a difficult time and he saw a lot of things that happened. That was the end of the conversation. But he didn't talk about the fact that for in in six months time the 92nd had captured over 19,000 Germans.

[00:23:51]>> Yes.

[00:23:52]>> PS 19,000.

[00:23:54]>> Yes. And he the only thing he would say that there's time they're in combat and there would go from town to town and once the the 92nd would would deploy that location the Germans would surrender. I mean they just they didn't want no parts of this because those guys was first fighters and they're just throw the weapons down say okay we want no parts of this. So and he said that um and that was in the conversation because of the horrific situation you're in.

[00:24:23]That's something you don't want to relive. And that's the reason why when we talk to the family members, they say they never talked about it. And we understand that as being soldiers.

[00:24:34]>> Yeah. Well, yeah. Yeah. I [laughter] I find that kind of odd, too, because, you know, if if things were uh as inequitable as uh as a lot of people, a lot of veterans have said, you know, you you you think they would come back and gripe about it. Uh but uh in in their favor, you know, a lot of them just started doing something doing some things to better uh making sure that their future uh uh generation will not have to go through that something like that. Okay. And uh I've seen that happen. Uh you have some very very productive veterans in this area in terms of getting involved with the communities and um and yeah, and other institutions, you know. So, uh, but interesting, you know, whenever I see, I guess a a female veteran, [laughter] it kind of Okay. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah. Because, you know, I when when I grew up when when somebody said uh uh the the veterans are over there or the veterans, just think about a male, you know, that was just >> that was just a common thing to do, okay? you think about a male and um so uh kind of excuse me if I if I you know seem to think that you're left out but it's and I don't have to be left in off just because you know it's a female veteran but um having said that Miss Banghead what uh did your experience um uh seemed like it was in double jeopardy when um because you were a female I you you you hit all the categories. You got you're female, you're black, and you were you were in um in the army of other places like that. So, uh so what tell us a little bit about that.

[00:26:29]>> Okay. Um when I went in the army, I didn't go to stay. I just went in to get away from home. Um and but once I got in, it was nothing to do but stay in. I was 18 when I went in. So, I couldn't just go in. And I had my parents had to sign for me to go in back then. But again, I was going into the women's army court. And going into the women's army court, we were treated different. We didn't do the same thing that men did.

[00:26:55]We wasn't even given the jobs that they were doing. And like now you got women in infantry. And I'm totally against it.

[00:27:01]But women are in infantry. They are in the tracks. Uh they are in the abr that's on the tanks. Wherever men are, the women are mostly mostly everywhere.

[00:27:10]Uh women are. But in the military as a woman, as a black woman, yes, there were difficult trials because you got to fight against the man, the white woman, the white woman. You're against you competing against her, the white man and the black man. And then here you go, the black woman. I was a mother and a wife in the military and a leader. So I had a lot of responsibilities, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am so happy and so proud of being a soldier. I am I'm so proud. I was the first female from this community to go into the military. I am the first one that retired who's actually from this community and >> I encourage other people go in the military. The milit I enjoyed it. I would go back tomorrow if it was little like it was when I was there.

[00:28:06]So, um, you you you so you you would do it all over again.

[00:28:11]>> Yes, I >> Yes. Well, you know, that leads up to your um efforts in in pulling this thing together like you had over the past weekend. Your discipline may be attributed to that. The discipline that you had in the military, I presume. Um, >> yes.

[00:28:30]>> Right. Um I came from a strong disciplined family also before I went in the military. So that was instilled in me. I'm coming from a family of um I have five siblings and my parents there was very strict. So I came in with that and we a lot of responsibility of working hard and I worked hard before I went in. So, but when I got in the military, it just enhanced my skills that I already had and being a leader, being responsible for other people, um that just in in increased what I was already doing. And after I retired and coming out, I just loved I worked at a group home, C Haven Youth Home. I was director there for 17 years. That was the most rewarding job I ever had. But um being out here as a veteran now and helping other veterans, looking out for them, that's what I feel I need. I believe that's one of my callings that I need to do because so many veterans are not getting the help that they need.

[00:29:31]>> So somebody long time. Yeah.

[00:29:34]>> And you know, they knew nothing about it when they came home about uh when they came from Vietnam. Nobody told them about different benefits that they could get. But now we're finding out more. We helping veterans so they can help and improve their life their life skills.

[00:29:50]>> Yeah. uh you know yeah uh Art uh used to Art and I used to converse on on things like that and the the different approaches for um a medical care and as recent as a few days ago and we were talking about uh uh the different medical care when you are um you you you can get it free at the veterans as as opposed to uh private medical care. And um I think Art uh you know unless you don't want to talk about it Art your your rank when you got out was pretty high >> right? Well, yes, >> I from what I've researched that that >> Okay. But yeah, but what's important, you know, I think what what uh my experience in the military was as as Bren I concur what she's saying is that it's an experience that I would relive again. I would sign up tomorrow. I retired from Fort Bragg. I'm an hour and 45 minutes away. If uh the military navy just give me a phone call and I'll be at Fort Bragg an hour and 45 minutes. Ready to roll.

[00:30:54]Ready to roll. [laughter] Yeah. But and again that that discipline from home uh discipline at school >> and also uh be the fact that based on my research our family research is that I we I had three three uh World War I veterans in my family. Okay. And Frank Bellamy see Frank Bellamy Amos Bellamy and Sam Stanley senior. In fact Brenda recognized uh we did a recognition. I wasn't able to attend because I had to travel that weekend uh at pop at Chesfield Baptist Church last year in November at her veterans program was recognized as a World War I veteran. Sam Stanley senior and his son Sam Stanley Jr. was in Vietnam. But uh I had three and then I had 15 15 uh 15 family veterans, cousins and uncles that was in World War II. had about eight was in Korean conflict and about probably about 12 that was in Vietnam. So uh and right there from popular Brooksville and Longs area.

[00:32:02]So uh the uh the history is there, the family involvement in the military is there. So that piqu my interest when I was growing up talking with different family members uh about the military and also the military is that it's educational. It's education within itself because the travel, the different cultures, the different languages, the different uh ideologies, the different uh political systems that you go to foreign countries. Uh you're one day you can deploy to an area within eight hours you in a foreign country somewhere. So, and you have to be a person that be adaptable and to respect other people culture. I think that what works is that, you know, treat people the way you want to be treated. If you in Techlovakia or you in Japan or Korea, South Pacific or wherever, it's that's how we're able to communicate at all different levels. Now, you can take Bren and I and you today we can go to the airport in Myrtle Beach and you can fly us into uh Afghanistan. We'll be able to function in a matter of seconds because we've been trained to do that.

[00:33:13]>> So, yes. So that that's one of the great things about the military is and then once we retired we're still active because I do a lot of volunteer work with veterans and their benefits especially in the area of uh their awards and certificates and their medals. In fact, one of the things that we're working on now is uh doing research with the Camp Robert Smalls Naval Training Center graduates. See, during World War II from 42 to 45, [snorts] the Navy had two training centers. You had Great Lakes and you had Camp Robert Smalls. Who is Robert Smalls? He's from South Carolina. In fact, during the uh he commandeered a ship during the Civil War and surrendered to the Union military, >> right? Then later on he became a captain in the navy and after he completed his service in the uh in the uh navy he became a US congress member of in fact uh yeah and he was well state representative became a congress member I guess camp Robert named the u facility after uh yeah Robert Smalls.

[00:34:26]>> Yeah.

[00:34:26]>> So that's one project we're working on.

[00:34:28]We're we're doing research on that. Also the next project we're working doing research on is uh at camp ljun you at camp ljun from 42 to 45 you had the muffet point marines.

[00:34:41]Okay there were the black marines who trained at uh at at camp ljun there the segregated facility. So we're we're working on that project doing some research in that area. But we only a able to we so far from Camp Robert Smalls, we identified at least about 10 sailors from the area that are graduates of Camp Robert Smalls. In fact, one of them is Mr. Blaine from Edward Blaine.

[00:35:11]Mr. Edward Blaine from Conway. Uh he was uh Camp Robert Smalls. You had J uh John D. JD Randall, my uncle James Stanley, Emry Gore, >> uh his his c his brother Edward Gore, you had James uh Gryet from Brooksville, uh Mr. Reverend uh what's his name?

[00:35:34]Glenn. Reverend Glenn from Little River and several others. So it's about 10 from the area that we are working on uh far as recognizing Camp Robert Smalls.

[00:35:46]>> Yeah. Yeah. I have a I do want to make ask a question but uh first of all let me if I can diverge a little bit back to Miss Bankhead. Uh Mr. my head. Uh the people for the people who are are viewing this, uh how would they contact?

[00:35:59]Who would they contact? Is there a contact person that they if they're interested, you know, you just you just laid out some things that um that people should be uh um wanting to join. Um can you provide with a phone number or something or >> Yes. Yes. Um yes, if they would like to join or have their relatives um want us to research them, they can reach me at 843 421 7386 or three or 843 399491.

[00:36:38]>> Okay, you might say that say that again because we're we're getting that typed in so we can put it on the screen. Okay.

[00:36:45]So, is that it?

[00:36:47]>> Yes, that is one of the numbers and the other number is 843 4 2 1 7386.

[00:37:01]Yes. So, uh the Yeah. Okay. Right.

[00:37:05]That's good. So, um the the the answer uh that you have on on one of these phones, I'm I'm assuming is going to say um uh uh uh uh Buffalo.

[00:37:18][laughter] I can do that.

[00:37:24]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, because look, there's a lot of potential here I'm looking at. Okay. and and um yeah the because the these revelations that are coming up uh the revelations to me anyway um things I I didn't know but uh but I'm so glad to know them that uh about uh the the the contributions and and the stuff that they had to go through, you know, our soldiers had to go through. Uh so people talk about, you know, uh black members who came back from Vietnam and then they had to fight another war when they came back. But if you go further back on where the Buffalo Soldiers are, I mean, must have been double jeopardy, okay, on what they had to do. And and uh you just just to think about it that uh uh and it's they still carried the carried the flag bravely, okay? Um yeah, you know, that's uh that's something that that you know, people should, you know, kind of pay close attention to, especially our youth. Okay. Um, but they they're not I I I would say that the I will use the average youth today is probably not a not aware, but it's coming there. Not not very much aware of the Buffalo Soldiers. I I've seen a lot of um enough anyway of not enough but quite a bit of uh information on um on YouTube uh where they have little clips of of thing of what the Buffalo S soldiers were or um accounted for in bravery and and and stuff like that. And they do they do a pretty good job. Okay. They do a pretty good job of depicting that. Uh, I noticed something. Uh, I think it was day before yesterday. I didn't know that. Uh the guy Dory Miller, the guy who who got during Pearl Harbor, who got behind Machine Gun and started um downing some aircraft for the Japanese, they showed uh um a a a uh a uh captain or they showed a general putting a metal on him, >> but I thought he had gotten killed during that time when he was when he was firing uh the m the the gun. But uh they showed him [snorts] being a recipient of a medal uh by uh one of the the generals and uh you know I wonder how that played out. I I don't know but I was glad to see that. I think that for our young people need to know that.

[00:39:54]>> Uh so Dory >> Yes. You say about Dory Miller that he died later on in uh in the war. He was not he was not killed there at Pearl Harbor.

[00:40:04]>> Okay. Yeah. Okay.

[00:40:05]>> Dory Miller.

[00:40:06]>> Okay. Okay. Also, Dory Miller is a graduate of Cat Robert Smalls, United States Navy.

[00:40:12]>> Okay. All right.

[00:40:13]>> And you and also uh you know you know the football player Russell Wilson.

[00:40:18]>> Yeah. Right.

[00:40:19]>> His grand his grandfather is a graduate of Camp Robert Smalls.

[00:40:24]>> Okay.

[00:40:26]>> All right. And and uh go ahead. You about to say something?

[00:40:31]I I wanted to say one thing right quick is that um if it on July on November the 7th this year we'll be also having our veterans our annual veterans program and we want everybody to come out and be a part of this is our third annual veterans program. We'll be here at Chesterfield's church. And also, I would like everyone to know that Chesterfield Church is very interested in encouraging and supporting our veterans. Anything that they can do to help veterans, Chesterfield Church as a whole, we reach out and try to do it.

[00:41:11]>> And we like to thank Chesterfield Dr. Jada J.R. Matthews and the Chesterfield congregation uh for their support uh of this event. Uh there was very successful and food staff the food service staff did in a splendid job providing preparing the foods the meals. So we're very appreciative of Chesville Baptist Church.

[00:41:33]>> Yeah. Uh uh the feedback that you guys been getting, man, was just monumental.

[00:41:37]I'm telling you on that on that. Uh and you you know you all deserve a a pat on the back. Um and uh uh the the uh if maybe if we had more uh more photos of of you know personal personups close-ups uh then we would have provided them but uh just verbally I think that was a um a monumental ceremony and in so there were about closer close I know it had wall to wall people >> I do know >> over 200 people and that and that was in just a fellowship hall.

[00:42:16]>> Yes, >> that's right.

[00:42:20]And that Yeah. Uh that says something.

[00:42:24]>> But you know the the most important thing about it was that the the the comments we received from the family members. They were overwhelmed with the information we provided them while we were there doing the presentations and we were and uh Brenda was uh there was doing the narration of their background their contributions. You could see the response on their face that we did not know this and we're very proud of our our grand our grandfather our our father. So it was a moment where that uh it really elevate their level to understand that the contributions of their loved one. So that was the apex of this operation to to provide that information and share that history with their families. And we charge them. We put we place special emphasis. We kept over emphasizes over and over again.

[00:43:20]When you return back to your community, you have a duty and obligation to teach this history and share this history with your other family members and pass it on generation after generation after generation.

[00:43:33]>> Absolutely.

[00:43:34]>> And we have responsibility to teach our history.

[00:43:36]>> No one else going to do it for you.

[00:43:38]>> Yep.

[00:43:39]>> So that's our responsibility.

[00:43:41]>> Right. Right. Right. So, so, um, Orton or or or Miss uh Bankhead, the uh um what's the future? What does the future look like for I know you just said that in November you're going to have another uh ceremony for something, but uh c can you envision a uh a greater future, a greater um reach out for the Buffalo Soldiers aspect of veterans? Um >> yes.

[00:44:08]Um, next year hopefully we have more Buffalo Soldiers that we know about because right now Alton is already picked up four. So between now and then we have more. We're going to hopefully we have a much more people um which reach out and just so we can reach out and touch them. And also the November program we're going to do different things like this year we do the folding of the flag. A lot of veterans had never seen the 13 foes of the American flag.

[00:44:36]>> And we also going to do the uh old glory, the army virgin of the old glory present, the presentation of the old glory, which is the flag, >> right?

[00:44:47]>> And we have third uh >> females doing that. We're doing it.

[00:44:53]>> But one other thing too about female veterans uh a lot of times >> Okay, you you can have I didn't mean to Okay.

[00:45:03]>> I just I need to say a lot of times female veterans are not recognized. I have been in places where I stood there and female veteran I was I'm standing there with my head on said retired US Army veteran. Somebody standing there beside me. He did two years or three years and they thanking him for their service and I did 20 years over 20 years. So my point is and it kind of and then the other thing they say is that your husband had you worrying? So that's kind of in my face too. But that's okay because awareness is important to me. So I wear my gear because I want other people to know I'm okay with that because I'm proud of my service. So but I want people to know that there are women veterans out there too a lot more now. And one thing I see I'm so proud of when I see the women veterans and active duty women now seem like they're getting promoted faster, higher rankings. And I'm so proud of that. So, it's it's different now than it was when we were in. I've been retired 32 years. And um it's a difference now, but I'm just so proud to see the women and men making rank faster same to me now than they did when we were in.

[00:46:15]>> Wow.

[00:46:16]>> Okay. I also I like to uh provide you my number is uh area code or it's air code 843 uh 2227771.

[00:46:28]>> Okay. And and that's the number that you can be read. That's your sale or is that the number for the veterans?

[00:46:34]>> You know, we like the family members out there to contact us. And if you think your family members, Buffalo Soldier, uh please give us a call and we'll do the research.

[00:46:46]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:46:46]>> Okay. We definitely need their support and assistance in doing this because our our goal is objective is to recognize this family.

[00:46:56]>> Yeah. You know, uh, one thing that we didn't talk about, and we did have a couple of photos on that, um, but there may be more than that than this, uh, we had a photo on the museum is is a the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in I in I believe it's in Kansas, I believe. Uh, Texas, Houston.

[00:47:16]>> Houston. Houston. Yeah. Yeah. And and that's amazing. But my according to my research, there were others which we didn't have photos of. Uh but uh uh yeah, that that's interesting because uh the these things are going on and and but but their their bravery and everything about them is not really uh propagated out there like like like it should be. And uh and that's where you you all came uh came in on this past weekend, Miss Bankad and u uh Mr. Bellamy. they that the um uh uh you you you're really bringing it bring it bringing it in into light about something that uh it's really you can call that black history.

[00:48:01]>> All right.

[00:48:01]>> It's American it's American history.

[00:48:03]>> Yeah. It's Yeah.

[00:48:04]>> American history.

[00:48:05]>> Black American history. Okay. And um you know something like this I'm sure they're taking it out of schools by now according to this new administration.

[00:48:13]You know they're taking things like that out of school and as if it's not important. Uh but it's up to you guys, people like you all, to create these uh uh these uh uh um scenarios or celebrations so that the rest of the world, I say it's not the rest of the United States, but the rest of the world can see uh the role that was played uh by the uh the Buffalo Soldiers.

[00:48:39]And uh uh I I I didn't there was something I didn't read about, but I didn't read it on on the airways a few minutes ago, but the the the um the Native Americans uh called the uh black sold Buffalo Soldier one of one of the reasons because they had curly hair like the buffaloos, not curly hair, hair like like the real Buffaloos that uh that uh was their staple economy. That was their uh that was their food uh their clothing. Uh that buffalo. Okay. And uh the bravery of the buffalo. Uh buffalo was not easy to kill.

[00:49:17]So >> Okay.

[00:49:20]>> Neither were >> And that's why they uh Yeah. Here it is.

[00:49:23]Is at Fort Levvenworth in Kansas.

[00:49:25]>> Yeah. Fort Leworth, Kansas. Yeah.

[00:49:26]>> Yeah. One one of the monuments. That's a that's a monument I was here. It's something called TDY uh temporary duty.

[00:49:34]I was there for about a week there at Fort Kansas.

[00:49:38]>> Yeah. Yeah. And um and you're the Buffalo Soldier. This is at your recent uh event um uh bank and >> Yeah.

[00:49:50]>> Yeah. And uh I mean these people I mean they're passionate about about being in an organization man. You can tell that.

[00:49:59]um you know they uh they came from all from all over the life on on the back of the on their back of their jackets they they show where they came from.

[00:50:09]>> Okay. Uh and it shows where they um uh and you know for them to hear about how do they hear about it you think by by the way um y'all uh Facebook or something or >> No. Um, one of one of them is my friend, the one that's um with the head on backwards, the one that spoke um he was he's actually my daughter's friend. He's like my my my my son. We call him my adopted son. And um I spoke to him about it like three months ago and he told me he said no problem mom. I'll be there. I will be there. So um then he said asked for a flyer. I sent them flyers and then I started getting phone calls from different chapters and they wanted to come and how you do you have room. I'm like yeah come on. So that's what happened. They just they wanted to come.

[00:50:57]They're excited about it. Also I wanted to say the official date for the um national the national Buffalo Soldier Day is actually July the 28th of every year. But I hope we could do something every day, particularly July, to acknowledge our Buffalo Soldiers.

[00:51:15]Well, well, uh, they, uh, they better be aware because next year you may, you may have to get a different venue or have to build something on to Chesape Church, [laughter] put a temporary part on on the church or something and to accommodate because I think uh, when once this word gets out here and um, and it's it's going to be out there uh, that you you're going to have your hands full. So, um, uh, you all can just be aware. you might as well stop planning right now.

[00:51:46]>> That's what we're that's what we're discussing. We'll be planning well in advance >> of this the next event there.

[00:51:52]>> But most importantly is I said uh the the response back from the family members uh we put a we can't overemphasize this. Please contact us so we can do the research and we want that's our number one objective is to recognize those families.

[00:52:11]>> Yeah, absolutely. And we need the information.

[00:52:14]>> Yeah. Um >> do the research.

[00:52:17]>> One of the things I wanted to say too is you might the family um they may not realize what they suffered to the families because they when their service member came back home from the war. Now there was they came back home with things in their heart that they didn't bring out. So they assist through all those years. Some of them wasn't born when their parents was in the militias like Mr. Floyd Bellamy. Some of his children wasn't born then. But they went through stages in life where he you know probably could have been talked more about things uh but he he didn't also like fireworks and stuff. A lot of veterans particularly the ones who was in air have books on the ground um they don't like to be around around a lot of fireworks. So my point is that family members also suffered and we thank the family members for their support >> because they had a job to play to the they kept the home fire burning per se when they was >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. it it's u you know and and those those photos depict the passion that they have ju just being in the in there in in the organizations and and um I again I reiterate uh uh the little investigating that I did on online um uh led me to more than one museum that the Buffalo Soldiers had or and one that they had these different states were dedicating to uh uh call them the the Buffalo Soldier Museum.

[00:53:54]Some were general museums of the army, but they had a certain certain section in that was for uh Buffalo soldiers.

[00:54:03]>> That is correct. Yes.

[00:54:04]>> Yeah. I thought that was interesting. Uh especially since like, you know, they're not really really widely known as they should be. Okay. Uh it was so off.

[00:54:16]>> Well, the reason reason why I say because the early on in 1866, the operation uh for the Buffalo Soldiers was in areas uh east uh west of the west of the Mississippi. There was in they were in Kansas, uh Texas, Omaha, Nebraska, North Dakota, South. They were out on they were out in the western frontier. Okay. Right. And then later on in World War I, uh that's when they're in France and England and then World War II, France and England and Germany and then the South Pacific. So that's the reason why you probably people were not much aware of him early on in their career because the fact that they're out in the Midwest, >> right?

[00:55:01]>> Fighting out on they were fighting out out on the western frontier.

[00:55:05]>> Okay. Uh Orton, we need that telephone number again that you uh uh said.

[00:55:10]>> Okay. It's uh area code 843, >> right?

[00:55:14]>> Uh 222 77 71.

[00:55:21]>> Okay. 8432227771.

[00:55:27]>> That's correct. Yes.

[00:55:28]>> Yeah. Well, that's easy to remember.

[00:55:30]>> Yeah. A lot of twos and sevens there.

[00:55:32]>> Yeah. It sounds like a lawyer's number, but anyway, >> but we we really appreciate the families uh as Brenda was saying is that because it's a team effort when you're a soldier. I mean, you're if you're deployed or been I don't training exercise all the constantly on training because you have families there and uh we appreciate families in supporting the soldiers. So, it's a team effort that uh a soldier uh goes through their training or deployment or in combat situation and you're come back, you're never the same.

[00:56:09]Even if you're experienced in the military, there are certain there's still certain things I still do uh from my military experience. So, you never you never become a civilian again. That never happened.

[00:56:23]I don't care how much you try, you never be a civilian again.

[00:56:28]>> Does not work. [laughter] >> Take charge.

[00:56:32]>> That's right.

[00:56:33]>> Think about mine is that >> I have that take charge spirit and I need to get away from that. But I have that take charge spirit. Wherever I'm at, I'm stepping out.

[00:56:45]>> You know, >> I've had I'm going share an experience with you. I was at church at Mount Calvary. One of our church members was was sick in the choir, right? So what happened was as a trustee we had we have a team together and we uh remove the uh choir member place the choir member into a classroom right my cousin is an usher so I told my cousin to get on the phone to call EMS we need to medevac this person notice I said medevac and then once we the the once she was transported to the hospital at coast my cousin came back to me she was laughing she say, "Orton, you know what you told me to do?" I said, "Yes, I call EMS and we had to transport someone house." She said, "No, you told me to call EMS. We need to medevac someone."

[00:57:34]>> Yes. The armor. [laughter] An armor term.

[00:57:39]>> An army came out of me.

[00:57:41]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, so look you guys, I'm I'm telling you, uh this has been a very um informative uh broadcast today.

[00:57:49]And I I just want to reiterate one thing before we we are uh close come to a close. Um you all just get ready for for next year. You better do some good planning.

[00:58:00]>> Yes. I think this I think it's going to be big. Okay. I I I Yeah, I really think so. And um uh you can tell your pastor uh Re Jr. Matthew Houston. [laughter] He he might as well gear up. Okay. that uh and look for something something big, you know, because it looks like it's g it's gonna I think this thing is it's gonna kick off. Okay. I really think so.

[00:58:28]>> Definitely will >> really think so. And um >> and uh I I just hope that you all are prepared and and uh and if it does if it does be as big as I'm I'm envisioning, it's going to be it's going to be good for not just the community, but for the whole county there.

[00:58:45]>> That's correct. That's correct. It's gonna be good for the whole county.

[00:58:48]and uh because this things this thing has um uh far farreaching potential for a lot of other events to be uh spinning off from this. Okay. Um and you two are responsible good or bad. [laughter] Okay.

[00:59:06]>> Okay.

[00:59:06]>> Good.

[00:59:08]Okay. So, so listen, do you all have any last minute remarks? We are we're coming to a close. Uh, so >> I just like to thank you so much for allowing us to come on this afternoon. I really appreciate and I would like to also reach out and thank um the Chesterfield staff and the community that came in and hope make our event Saturday a success. My um adopted son who's back in Florida, we thank him too and all the um the members that came down with them. Uh the Chesterfield church family, they were so it was so touching to my heart on Saturday how you don't have to ask them to do something.

[00:59:47]They just stepped in and did that's yeah that's an outstanding family. Okay. And I didn't have to say nothing. Somebody just make it happen. And I like that because they call me the drillge. They call me it all around here. So they say do it before the drill sergeant come. Do it before.

[01:00:05]But I I enjoy thank I thank everybody for what they did to make our program a success, >> you know, and and yeah, I can I can echo that. Um each each time that I've gone to any event over there, I'll tell you those cooks, if I knew all of their names, I would call them out, you know, one one after another. But, uh that cooking staff and their serving staff is just fantastic. Kudos to them. uh they put a lot of passion into this thing uh to to making sure that people are fed well and um you know it's just yeah kudos and we thank them very much. Um, I know see brother Arton had to um had to leave for a second, but anyway uh we're out of time and um again we want want to uh thank you all uh for uh re all these I'm going to quote unquote revelations of the uh uh u of the um Buffalo Soldiers and and I think it's about time that it uh it's it gets out of there like that and uh it's going to continue on. Okay. Again, still going to reiterate. Next year, you better [laughter] you better stop the planning right now. You better start planning right now. It's It's coming.

[01:01:17]>> I'm just going to tell my daughter, go ahead and pack the suitcase because you got to come down and help me next year.

[01:01:22]She's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Might as well. You You're gonna be coming out of the woodwork. Okay. Watch. [laughter] >> Okay. So uh thank everybody and thank our viewers for you all u receiving this information.

[01:01:37]>> Okay.

[01:01:37]>> Uh and hopefully you all can can act upon that and we you don't have any last words. Martin.

[01:01:44]>> Um I e echo same sentiment sentiments of uh Brenda that we thank the staff at uh the church here Baptist was supportive overwhelmed and splendid job >> Matthews the community at the Buffalo Soldiers the various different chap we like thank you too.

[01:02:03]>> Yeah well you welcome our show and providing that media coverage your platform. We really appreciate you and we look forward to coming back and uh provide you some updates on other activities that we'll be doing >> absolutely the upcoming next several months and uh next year planning >> right and November should be uh you should be keep >> at 2 p.m.

[01:02:30]>> And we also going to have a young man down he's going to come down to help out too. His name is Omar Bryant. He's gonna be coming down from Atlanta to help us out.

[01:02:39]>> Okay.

[01:02:39]>> Oh, yeah. Okay.

[01:02:41]>> All right.

[01:02:43]>> See? All right. Uh, thank you all again.

[01:02:46]And, uh, viewers, >> uh, please, uh, uh, uh, Miss Bankhead and Mr. U, tell your viewers about, you know, to stay tuned and if they want to see us, uh, we we will have more, you know, shows like this because we're just community, uh, podcast. Okay. Um, thank you everybody and God speed. last week.

[01:03:06]God bless you.

[01:03:08]>> See everybody at 7 PM next week to our viewers. Uh and um just spread the word.

[01:03:15]>> Okay.

[01:03:15]>> Thank you so much.

[01:03:16]>> Okay.

[01:03:17]>> We'll see you.

[01:03:18]>> Thank you very much.

[01:03:19]>> All right.

[01:03:20]>> All right.

[01:03:20]>> Okay. Have a good day. [music] >> Thank you for watching the World Community Magazine's hour