Posted on 07/16/2007 9:14:37 AM PDT by LouAvul
Tulsa - Funeral services will be held this morning for Dr. Wilbert Wilson, the last of the Buffalo Soldiers, who passed away last week at age 86.
Wilson's unit, the 10th Cavalry, served during World War II, guarding the California-Mexico border from attempts by the Japanese to invade the country.
In recent years, Wilson spent his free time making appearances at area schools, educating children about the Buffalo Soldiers.
The name Buffalo Soldiers was given to troops of the all-black 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments during the Indian wars of the late 1800s. Because of the successes of the all-black regiments, President Harry S. Truman ordered the military to be integrated in 1948 and the 'Buffalo Soldiers' were disbanded.
Twenty-three of the Buffalo Soldiers went on to win the prestigious Medal of Honor. No other unit has won more.
Funeral services will be held this morning at 10 a.m. at Greater Grace Apostolic Temple. Wilson will then receive full military honors this afternoon at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, where he will be buried at 2 p.m.
An honor guard representing Post 15 of the American Legion will perform a rifle salute, followed by TAPS with echoes. A U.S. Army detail from Fort Sill will also be on hand to fold the American Flag and present it to Wilson's survivors.
Good job, Dr Wilson. We all salute you...save us a space in Heaven.
The article almost seems to imply that Truman ordered the military to be integrated because of the Indian wars. Shoddy writing.
IIRC, it was specifically after the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of '44, and at the urging of General Patton. Allied manpower was running dangerously low, and Patton offered his black support troops the opportunity to fight. Many of them even gave up rank to do so.
One crew in particular (cf Stephen Ambrose, "Citizen Soldiers"), were infantry. They killed a German soldier who had a panzerfaust (sp?). They then ran onto the battlefield, used the panzerfaust to destroy a Tiger tank, and were themselves killed by German fire.
True heroes, they were.
Another interesting point is that some time ago the military used to guard the Mexican American border...
Well Down Dr. Wilson
May you slumber in peace and awake in Heaven
Yeh, they did, and not against the Mexican Army either. Imagine that.
Thank you for your service, Sir!!
And how many Japanese did they repel? Inquiring minds want to know.
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