Sgt. Mark Matthews Dies; at 111, Was Oldest Buffalo Soldier

Washington Post ^ | 9/13/05 | Joe Holley

[Borges]

[Tailback]

See you at Fiddlers Green 1SG. RIP

[Migraine]

Rest in peace, Amigo.

[Migraine]

Rest in peace, Amigo.

[Richard Kimball]

God bless.

[cubreporter]

Rest in Peace and thank you for your honorable service.

[ChefKeith]

RIP Sir

Ping

[Dudoight]

He was part of the history of Texas that was unlike anything else in our nation's history. God Bless him!

[Nat Turner]

READY AND FORWARD

[fizziwig]

Rest in Peace soldier.

111...dang that is old...wonder if he smoked..:)

I think George Patton lead a group of Buffalo soldiers also.

[over3Owithabrain]

Historians say that the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Apache tribes bestowed the appellation because the soldiers' black, curly hair reminded them of a buffalo's mane.

Those Injuns weren't very politically correct...

[BeAllYouCanBe]

Sergeant Matthews lived a magnificent life and the Buffalo Soldiers deserve a memorial in Washington. Too bad Sergeant Matthews won't see it. An important part of our history needs to be remembered.

[eyespysomething]

In 1992, Powell, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dedicated the monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., birthplace of one of the regiments.

[Armigerous]

Actually it was General John J.Pershing who was an officer with the 10th Cavalry Regiment early in his career. Hence his nickname 'Black Jack'.

[Congressman Billybob]

A good soldier, a fine gentleman, all salute his character and service. The Post article gives a false impression, however. The Buffalo Soldiers were not the only blacks in the military at the time.

Photographs from the era show that blacks served in the regular cavalry units in about the same proportion they were among cowboys at the time, or about 20%. There was far less discrimination on the Western Frontier than there was in the East or the South.

Shooting, riding, herding, plowing, building, what counted in the West then was the ability to do the job at hand. Those who could do that prospered, including blacks and women. It was a harsh involvement, but the hardships did not discriminate.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "Another Ignorant Actor Spouts Off"

[Waverunner]

It's funny - Jesse Jackson get's air time, and I bet the MSM doesn't even cover the passing of this American who has a true story of courage and citizenship.
God Bless Mark Matthews - American Citizen

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"I think George Patton lead a group of Buffalo "

I don't know but "Black-Jack" Pershing commanded Buffalo soliers and perhaps Patton was with him then but that would have been before 1915.

When was the official end of the Buffalo Soldiers??

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Wow. Guys, you have to read the whole story.

"I did it all," Sgt. Matthews told The Washington Post a few years ago. "Yes, I was there."

[billnaz]

"Actually it was General John J.Pershing who was an officer with the 10th Cavalry Regiment early in his career. Hence his nickname 'Black Jack'."

You are correct, and have obviously studied a lot of military history.

I understand that during World War II Patton went to the 761st Tank Battalion (made up of African-American soldiers except for senior officers and some junior officers) and said, "Men, I don't care what color you are, as long as you kill Germans!"

[Sunshine Sister]

What a storied life. Boy howdy did he get to see a lot of history/progress in his time. Wonderful story! Rest in peace my friend. You have surely earned it!