Posted on 09/18/2005 7:18:24 AM PDT by minerboy
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Mark Matthews, the oldest Buffalo Soldier, has died at the age of 111.
He'll be buried Monday at Arlington National Cemetery.
Matthews joined the legendary unit of black cavalry troops in 1910 at the age of 16. He soon found himself serving under Gen. John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing in the Army's pursuit of Pancho Villa, the revolutionary from Mexico who was considered a bandit.
Matthews later served in the South Pacific during World War II, rising to the rank of 1st sergeant.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I love the history of these brave soldiers. There are also some wonderful and beautiful paintings depicting the Buffalo Soldier by top-notch artists. They are sold in limited edition to collectors.
God bless Mark Matthews.
What an extraordinary life. This was a great man in every estimation but his own, and I wish for his family that they not cry because he is gone, but smile because he was here.
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