Leon Spencer Reid, Post 547, American Legion

02/12/2026

02/12/2026

https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/julius-becton-obituary-army-general-bryn-mawr-korean-vietnam-war-20231201.html

He grew up in Bryn Mawr, graduated from Lower Merion High School, and became one of the highest-ranking Black generals in the Army's history.

02/12/2026

Pioneer: The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
"No Mail, Low Morale" – The Six Triple Eight

In February 1945, as World War II raged, a unique U.S. Army unit arrived in Birmingham, England. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, comprised of 855 Black women from the Women's Army Corps (WAC), faced a monumental task: clearing a backlog of over 17 million pieces of mail destined for American servicemembers across Europe.

A Crisis of Morale:
For soldiers who had been fighting for years, letters from home were a lifeline. The undelivered mail piled up in warehouses was more than a logistical failure; it was a crisis for troop morale. The 6888th, under the command of Major Charity Adams Earley, was given the mission with a simple, urgent motto: "No mail, low morale."

The Mission:
Working in cold, rat-infested warehouses in three shifts around the clock, the women of the "Six Triple Eight" created an ingenious tracking system. They used 7 million information cards to manage the chaos of constantly moving troops, common names (like "Robert Smith"), and frequent casualties. They sorted an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift, clearing the entire Birmingham backlog in just three months—a task that had been deemed impossible.

Facing the Dual Enemy:
Beyond the sheer scale of the work, these women confronted the racism and sexism of a segregated Army. Major Earley famously stood her ground against a senior white officer who tried to assign them inferior recreational facilities, securing equal treatment for her troops. They later deployed to Rouen and Paris, managing the postal service for the entire European Theater.

Legacy and Long-Overdue Recognition:
The 6888th was disbanded in 1946 with little public fanfare. For decades, their vital contribution was largely forgotten. Finally:

2018: Awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

2022: Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Their story reshapes our understanding of service. They did not fire rifles, but they armed millions of soldiers with hope, love, and connection. They proved that the "soft" power of logistics and morale is decisive in war, and that Black women were indispensable to the Allied victory.

👉 Engage with Us:

Share to honor the essential service of the 6888th.

Reflect: Their work was about connecting loved ones. How does understanding this human, emotional dimension change our view of their military contribution?

Discuss: Why are support units, especially those staffed by women of color, so often left out of the popular history of war?



check the comment section below

02/12/2026

Augustus Walley was among the earliest Black Medal of Honor recipients and a member of the legendary Buffalo Soldiers.

Born around 1856, he served in the 9th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars, a time when Black soldiers were often sent into the most dangerous assignments while still facing discrimination within the ranks they served. In 1870, Walley showed extraordinary courage under fire during an engagement in Texas, helping rescue fellow soldiers while under intense attack. For that bravery, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

His story reflects a complicated chapter of American history. Black soldiers fought for a country that did not yet fully fight for them, proving loyalty, discipline, and valor on battlefields where recognition was rare and equality even rarer.

The Buffalo Soldiers helped shape the American West. Augustus Walley helped define what courage looked like in that uniform.

A legacy of service, sacrifice, and strength.

02/12/2026

02/12/2026

02/12/2026

02/12/2026

https://cafriseabove.org/roscoe-dubois-draper/

Roscoe DuBois Draper, flight instructor May 14, 1919 – October 31, 2024 Williams became one of a handful of “triple-rated” Tuskegee Airmen. He earned all three wings—in navigation, as a bombardier and as a pilot—between 1943 and 1945. “I still have them, and I can wear them,” he says. ...

02/12/2026

The Buffalo Soldiers: Guardians of the West and Symbols of Unyielding Courage

Forged in the fires of post-Civil War America, the Buffalo Soldiers were more than just army units—they were a testament to the resilience, professionalism, and fierce patriotism of Black men in the face of profound prejudice. These segregated regiments, composed of former slaves, freemen, and Black Civil War veterans, were tasked with the monumental challenge of taming the Western frontier, all while fighting a second battle for dignity and recognition within the very nation they swore to protect. Their legendary service carved a permanent place for Black soldiers in U.S. military history.

The essence of these historic regiments:

Formation & Units: 1866–1944 • Primarily the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments.
Origin of Name: Believed to have been given by Native American tribes, who saw a resemblance between the soldiers' hair and the buffalo's fur, an animal they held in high respect.
Key Contribution: Protected westward expansion, built infrastructure, fought outlaws and hostile forces, and served in the Spanish-American War and both World Wars, all while enduring systemic racism.

✨ Pioneers on the Frontier: Key Contributions

The legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers is one of exceptional service under extraordinary circumstances.

· Guardians of the Frontier: They were instrumental in the complex and often violent expansion into the West. Their duties included mapping vast territories, building forts, installing telegraph lines, and protecting settlers, railroad crews, and mail deliveries from outlaws and conflict, all while navigating a harsh and unforgiving landscape .
· Military Prowess and Valor: The Buffalo Soldiers participated in over 177 significant engagements against hostile forces, from the Red River War to the Apache Wars. Their reputation for discipline, marksmanship, and courage under fire became legendary. Their service continued with distinction in the Spanish-American War, where they fought famously at San Juan Hill alongside Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders .
· The First Park Rangers: In a little-known chapter of their history, Buffalo Soldiers were among the first "park rangers" in the nascent national parks of the West, like Yosemite and Sequoia. They protected the parks from poaching and timber theft, built trails, and fought wildfires, expanding their role as stewards of the nation they served .

Despite receiving some of the worst assignments and facing relentless discrimination from the citizens and institutions they protected, the Buffalo Soldiers consistently displayed a lower desertion rate and higher re-enlistment rate than their white counterparts. Their unwavering service provided a powerful argument for the capabilities of Black soldiers and paved the way for the eventual desegregation of the U.S. military, leaving an indelible mark on the soul of America.

02/12/2026

On the morning of September 11, 2001, LeRoy Wilton Homer Jr. reported for work like he had countless times before.

He was a pilot. A husband. A son. A Black man who had earned his place in a cockpit that had never been designed with him in mind.

When United Flight 93 was hijacked, LeRoy didn’t disappear into fear. From inside the plane, a calm but urgent voice reached the ground. He relayed what was happening. He fought for time. He fought for lives. And when passengers rose up against terror, he was already standing in resistance.

The plane never reached its intended target.

It crashed into a field in Pennsylvania instead—because the people onboard, including the pilots, refused to surrender quietly. Because courage lived in that cabin.

LeRoy Wilton Homer Jr. died that day at just 36 years old.

His name is rarely spoken when 9/11 is remembered. His face is often missing from the narratives. And yet, his sacrifice is inseparable from the lives he helped save. Even in a moment of national mourning, his story reminds us of a painful truth: Black heroism is too often overlooked, even when it costs everything.

But history does not forget forever.

LeRoy Homer was a Black pilot who faced terror with resolve, who helped prevent even greater loss, and who gave his life in the fight. He deserves to be remembered—not as a footnote, but as a hero.

This is Black history.
This is American history.
And his name matters. 🙏🏾

If you love our content and would like to support the page, you can buy us a coffee here: https://buymeacoffee.com/africanarchives

02/12/2026

After the American Civil War, Black soldiers served in the United States Army, particularly in the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. These units were deployed mainly to the western frontier, where they fought in conflicts known collectively as the Indian Wars.

During these encounters, some Native American tribes referred to the Black cavalry troops as “Buffalo Soldiers.” Historians generally agree that the name came from two main observations.

First, the soldiers’ dark, tightly curled hair was said to resemble the thick coat of the buffalo, an animal that held great significance in many Native cultures as a symbol of strength, endurance, and survival.

Second, the term reflected the soldiers’ reputation as determined and formidable fighters. Despite facing harsh conditions, discrimination within the army, and dangerous assignments, Black soldiers were known for their discipline, resilience, and effectiveness in combat—traits associated with the buffalo itself.

Over time, the name “Buffalo Soldiers” was adopted by the soldiers themselves and became a lasting identifier. These regiments went on to serve in numerous roles, including guarding settlers, protecting railroad construction crews, escorting mail routes, and later fighting in the Spanish-American War.

The legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers remains an important chapter in U.S. military history, highlighting the role Black soldiers played in shaping the nation during the late 19th century.

I write and research stories like this, you can support my work on:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AfricanArchives (I post blogs and book recommendations there)

02/12/2026

Colonel Charles Young was the first Black American to achieve the rank of colonel in the United States Army.

Born in 1864 in Mays Lick, Kentucky, to parents who had been enslaved, Charles Young grew up in the aftermath of the Civil War. His father, Gabriel Young, served in the Union Army. At just twenty years old, Young earned an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1889 as only the third Black American to do so.

Because of segregation, his early assignments were restricted to the Buffalo Soldier regiments, including service with the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 25th Infantry on the western frontier. Between 1894 and 1898, he served as a professor of Military Science at Wilberforce University, where he also taught Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and German.

During the Spanish-American War, Young returned to combat as a major in the 10th Cavalry and commanded troops during the famous charge up San Juan Hill. In 1903, he became the first Black American superintendent of a U.S. National Park, overseeing Sequoia and General Grant National Parks.

In 1916, Young led the 10th Cavalry during General Pershing’s expedition into Mexico. When World War I began, he was declared medically unfit—despite being the highest-ranking Black officer in the Army. To challenge that decision, Young completed a 500-mile horseback ride from Ohio to Washington, D.C. He was returned to duty in 1918 and promoted to colonel.

Colonel Charles Young died in 1922 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

👉🏾If you value stories like this and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee ☕ here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AfricanArchives (I post blogs and book recommendations there)