Guru
August 2nd, 2008, 08:27 PM
http://www.bolivarcom.com/index.cfm?event=news.view&id=7FB9B0FF-19B9-E2E2-67F96884C6719D8F
Mound Bayouian recalls time as a Buffalo Soldier
Michael Simmons
Staff Writer
Friday, Aug 01, 2008
When Elder Charlie Woodley was 21, his life changed forever.
The Slingshot native was living in Mound Bayou in the midst of World War II.
Woodley was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in North Africa and Italy.
“We went for a year of training, then, when they hit Pearl Harbor and the president made his speech we were off,” the 88-year-old said.
Woodley reported to Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kan., where he trained.
The 92nd Infantry Division, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers Division, saw combat in the Mediterranean and North African Theaters of War.
The name Buffalo Soldier was given to African-American soldiers of the 10th cavalry regiment during the 19th century. However, it was later expanded to encompass several other regiments.
Members of the different cavalry regiments trained on horses.
Woodley recalled an event that occurred while he was serving in Italy which has haunted him.
“There was this huge building in town that the Germans once occupied until they were driven back,” he said. “I was sitting in my tent and something went off — we went over there.
“It was a terrible sound; the Germans had bombed it.”
Woodley said that they went to Rome to a doctor to treat some of the 68 people who were inside of the building.
“We had to get our guns out to make the natives treat the people,” he said.
He recalled loading them up in the back of trucks like bales of cotton, one on top of the other — some women were giving birth at the time.
“That got under my skin,” he lamented. “What I couldn’t understand is why they wouldn’t treat them.”
Woodley rose to the rank of first sergeant and spent time as a driver for the replacement pool.
When soldiers died on the front lines, replacements from the pool were sent in.
He received numerous commendations, including one for good conduct.
One of his fondest memories was eating ice cream with former boxing heavyweight champion Joe Louis on many Sundays, as they became good friends. Louis enlisted in the U.S. Army while a boxer and traveled around participating in exhibition matches.
Woodley was sent home in 1943, only to find that the sentiment towards African-Americans in the South hadn’t change, even after serving the country in battle.
“That’s one of the things I think about, and it disturbs me,” he said. “It’s so painful when you think about some of the treatment we had.”
He recalled getting off the train in Memphis, Tenn., along with a major and lieutenant colonel.
“They looked at me and said I had done a lot, that they were proud,” he continued.
Woodley walked downtown to get a drink when he was approached by two police officers who gave Woodley a memory that has stuck with him for over 60 years.
“They said, ‘we don’t allow Negros to drink on the street’,” he recalled. “That was painful.”
Woodley eventually found his calling in the ministry and attended Campbell College in Jackson. He later married the late Willie Thelma Woodley.
A ceremony will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. by Montgomery-Green Post 220 of the American Legion, located at 202 Burns St. in Mound Bayou, to honor Woodley.
“He’s the last World War II Buffalo Soldier in the area, maybe even the state,” Samuel Toliver, commander of Post 220, said. “There aren’t too many left anywhere.”
“In addition to being a buffalo soldier, he was a charter member of the post and instrumental in it’s founding,” Anthony Norman, adjutant for Post 220, said.
On Aug. 4, 1948, Woodley and 22 other soldiers returning from World War II started the Montgomery-Green Post 220.
Toliver said that veterans, leaders and friends have been invited to the ceremony and he welcomes the public to attend and honor Woodley.
Mound Bayouian recalls time as a Buffalo Soldier
Michael Simmons
Staff Writer
Friday, Aug 01, 2008
When Elder Charlie Woodley was 21, his life changed forever.
The Slingshot native was living in Mound Bayou in the midst of World War II.
Woodley was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in North Africa and Italy.
“We went for a year of training, then, when they hit Pearl Harbor and the president made his speech we were off,” the 88-year-old said.
Woodley reported to Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kan., where he trained.
The 92nd Infantry Division, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers Division, saw combat in the Mediterranean and North African Theaters of War.
The name Buffalo Soldier was given to African-American soldiers of the 10th cavalry regiment during the 19th century. However, it was later expanded to encompass several other regiments.
Members of the different cavalry regiments trained on horses.
Woodley recalled an event that occurred while he was serving in Italy which has haunted him.
“There was this huge building in town that the Germans once occupied until they were driven back,” he said. “I was sitting in my tent and something went off — we went over there.
“It was a terrible sound; the Germans had bombed it.”
Woodley said that they went to Rome to a doctor to treat some of the 68 people who were inside of the building.
“We had to get our guns out to make the natives treat the people,” he said.
He recalled loading them up in the back of trucks like bales of cotton, one on top of the other — some women were giving birth at the time.
“That got under my skin,” he lamented. “What I couldn’t understand is why they wouldn’t treat them.”
Woodley rose to the rank of first sergeant and spent time as a driver for the replacement pool.
When soldiers died on the front lines, replacements from the pool were sent in.
He received numerous commendations, including one for good conduct.
One of his fondest memories was eating ice cream with former boxing heavyweight champion Joe Louis on many Sundays, as they became good friends. Louis enlisted in the U.S. Army while a boxer and traveled around participating in exhibition matches.
Woodley was sent home in 1943, only to find that the sentiment towards African-Americans in the South hadn’t change, even after serving the country in battle.
“That’s one of the things I think about, and it disturbs me,” he said. “It’s so painful when you think about some of the treatment we had.”
He recalled getting off the train in Memphis, Tenn., along with a major and lieutenant colonel.
“They looked at me and said I had done a lot, that they were proud,” he continued.
Woodley walked downtown to get a drink when he was approached by two police officers who gave Woodley a memory that has stuck with him for over 60 years.
“They said, ‘we don’t allow Negros to drink on the street’,” he recalled. “That was painful.”
Woodley eventually found his calling in the ministry and attended Campbell College in Jackson. He later married the late Willie Thelma Woodley.
A ceremony will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. by Montgomery-Green Post 220 of the American Legion, located at 202 Burns St. in Mound Bayou, to honor Woodley.
“He’s the last World War II Buffalo Soldier in the area, maybe even the state,” Samuel Toliver, commander of Post 220, said. “There aren’t too many left anywhere.”
“In addition to being a buffalo soldier, he was a charter member of the post and instrumental in it’s founding,” Anthony Norman, adjutant for Post 220, said.
On Aug. 4, 1948, Woodley and 22 other soldiers returning from World War II started the Montgomery-Green Post 220.
Toliver said that veterans, leaders and friends have been invited to the ceremony and he welcomes the public to attend and honor Woodley.