A Military Legacy

Introduction:
Americans of African decent have been an integral presence in American military life since the beginning days of the American Revolution. In this section the visitor will find monuments depicting the role of African Americans in every major conflict except the Spanish American War and American War in Korea. African Americans were active participants in these conflicts. However, to date we have not found a monument that recognizes that involvement.

Of note also is that fact that Haitians of African decent also participated in the American Revolution on the side of the American Revolutionaries. A monument depicting their participation in the Revolutionary War is included in this section although they were not African American. The monument representing their valor and commitment to the revolutionary cause is located in Savanah, GA and is included.

It is also noteworthy that in both the American Revolution and the Civil War African Americans fought on both sides. The monuments in this collection only depict African American participation on the side of the American Revolutionaries and the Union Army.

From its start, African Americans were engaged in the American Revolutionary War.

The American Revolutionary War Gallery

Interested in African American Heroism in America's Defense see Link in Read More (Below)

From Boston to Savannah, Beginning to End

Monuments in Boston Massachusetts and Savannah, Georgia commemorate the presence of African Americans in the struggle to establish United States' independence.

We begin with the Boston Massacre Monument.

It is noteworthy that the first name listed at the top of the monument is that of Crispus Attucks.

The Boston Massacre Monument

Le Chasseurs Voluntaires De Saint Dominique - Haiti Savanah, GA

This monument depicting Haitians of African decent, who participated in the American Revolution on the side of the American Revolutionaries is located in Savannah, GA.

The Monument to The 1st Rhode Island Regiment "The Black Regiment"

This monument, located in Middletown, R.I. was erected by the Newport, R.I Chapter NAACP and the R.I. Bicentenial Commission in 1976.

Soldiers in this Regiment were at Valley Forge during the Winter of 1777.

Patriots of African Descent

At least five hundred soldiers of African descent were encamped with George Washington at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777.

Valley Forge National Historic Park, Valley Forge, PA

The Civil War Gallery

The Robert Shaw Memorial
Boston, MA

Robert Shaw was the commander of the Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment, which was the second all African American unit to in the Civil War era. Col. Robert Shaw, a Euro- American, was its commanding officer.

For more information on this Monument click the link below:

Boston, MA

The Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment

To Learn more about this monument press the button below.

The African American Civil War Monument
Washington, D.C.

The African American Civil War Monument in Washington, DC offers a comprehensive representation of African American involvement in the war as soldiers and sailors in the Union forces. It includes the names of those men. So, a visitor to the monument might identify an ancestor who served in the military during that war.

Harriet Tubman

Along with her many exploits as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman is credited with being the first woman to lead American troops in combat during the Civil War.

New York, NY (Harlem)

The Buffalo Soldier Gallery

The Buffalo Soldier Monument, Fort Leavenworth, KS

The Buffalo Soldier Monument includes an almost lifelike representation of a Buffalo Soldier in action. To read up on their fascinating history click on Read More. (Below)

Fort Leavenworth, KS

The Buffalo Soldiers

They were heroes and patriots.

They were warriors, explorers and surveyors.

Spirit

Courage

Valor

Col. Charles Young -Buffalo Soldier

Col. Charles Young, was an American soldier and the third African American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was the first African American National Park Superintendent and the highest ranking African American officer in the U. S. Army until his death in 1922.

Col. Charles Young Monument
Cleveland, OH

The Pea Island Life Saving Station Gallery

Coastal life saving stations were the predecessors to the U. S. Coast Guard. The Pea Island Life Saving Station was the first life saving station in the U.S. to have an all African American crew.

The Pea Island Life Saving Station was located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Richard Etheridge

The Station in Action

Off Shore Rescue

Richard Etheridge and Crew

The last Officers of Pea Island

The World War I Gallery

This gallery includes the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors, which commemorates all African Americans who fought in the U.S. Military up to and including WWI.
Pictured to the right is the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors.

Philadelphia, PA

The Harlem Hell Fighters

Members of the 369th New York National Guard (some of the men pictured here) were deployed to France during WWI and served valiantly under the French Flag.

The Henry Lincoln Johnson Monument

Henry Lincoln Johnson, the soldier called "Black Death."

Albany, NY

Henry Lincoln Johnson - of the 369th Infantry /Regiment "The Harlem Hellfighters"

The Inscription

Read the Henry L. Johnson story here: https://americacomesalive.com/harlem-hellfighter-hero-henry-lincoln-johnson/

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The WW II Gallery

World War II began with the attack on Pearl Harbor. "Dorie" Miller was there. Pictured to the right is the Doris Miller Memorial Monument.

Waco, TX

The Dori Miller Memorial Monument

Dori Miller was awarded the Navy Cross on May 27, 1942, in a ceremony at Pearl Harbor He was also received the Purple Heart, and a Combat Action Ribbon.

The USS Miller is the third naval ship to be named after a black navy man

The Tuskegee Airmen Monument

If you're wondering why this monument is located in Walterboro, North Carolina and not Tuskegee, Alabama, The reason is that before leaving for combat duty in Europe the Airmen trained at Walterboro Army Airfield.

Walterboro, NC

The Plane

The Red Tail

The Tuskegee Airmen were credited by higher commands with the following accomplishments: 1378 combat missions, 1067 for the Twelfth Air Force; 311 for the Fifteenth Air Force. 179 bomber escort missions, with a good record of protection, losing only 25 bombers.

The American War in Vietnam Gallery
The Vietnam War Memorial-The Wall, Washington D.C.

Vietnam Memorial Field Images

The War in Viet Nam was the first American conflict in which U.S. troops were not formally segregated.

The Memorial depicts an integrated fighting force.

The Women's Memorial

The Vietnam Memorial includes a section honoring the women, who served in the Vietnam era military as nurses, air traffic controllers, physicians, intelligence officers and clerks.