The Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory - Ladies and Gentlemen of the Regiment, Headquarters Mesa, Arizona is an 'INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION'.
HISTORY BEING MADE... On Saturday, August 14, 2010 at the general meeting a post name was APPROVED by the American Legion Post 137 Tonopah, Cmdr Tom Sloan and Vice Commander Trish Carlisle-Thompson and general members.
I would like to invite you and your group to attend a very special event that the American Legion Post 137 will be hosting on August 14, 2010 and March 5, 2011 in Tonopah, AZ. This event is to honor the changing of our Post name from the Tonopah American Legion to The Isaiah Mays - Bill Mauldin American Legion Post 137 of Tonopah, Arizona.
CONGRATS... The American Legion Post 137 Tonopah, Arizona named 'Isaiah Mays (Buffalo Soldier) and William (Bill) Mauldin' the new post of the 21th Century. This is the first post in the State of Arizona recognizing a Buffalo Soldier, Medal of Honor.
SPECIAL GUESTS: The Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory based in Mesa, Arizona was cordially invited to witnessed this historical moment of history being made. Cmdr Fred Marable, Sgt. Edward Reece and Pvt. Michelle London-Marable provided the members presentations about Buffalo Soldiers: Isaiah Mays, Cathy Williams and Charles Young, Buffalo Soldiers who served in the U.S. Army, 1866 - 1902.
Note: The Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory - Ladies and Gentlemen of the Regiment, Mesa, AZ had been cordially invited to participate in two American Legion Posts being named: 1st: The American Legion Post 137 Tonopah, AZ, August 14, 2010
2nd: Travis L. Williams Post 65 Phoenix, AZ, November 28, 2010
After exensive research, the name(s) of the following five (5) deceased individuals are submitted to the Post 137 membership for consideration as the Post Name.
1st: William Henry "Bill" Mauldin, Sergeant, U.S. Army. Date of Birth: October 29, 1921. Date of Death: January 23, 2003.
Recipient of the Purple Heart and Legion of Merit. The Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Bill Mauldin died at a California nursing home on January 23, 2003, and was laid to rest on January 30, 2003 at Arlington National Cemetery.
2nd: Corporal Isaiah Mays (Buffalo Soldier in Company B, 24th Infantry Regiment) enlisted in the U.S. Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio, at age 28 and re-enlisted at the age of 33. Corporal Mays was one of America's Black heroes - a Buffalo Soldier who Earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his "gallantry and Meritorious conduct" while defending an Army pay wagon against Masked bandits. The Arizona State Hospital cemetery. Mays might have been forgotten had it not been for the efforts of hospital small group of Arizona Veterans who identified Mays as one of the state's recipients of the nation's Highest Military Honor. On, May 29, 2009, the remains of Isaiah Mays were interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
3rd: Cathy Williams "William Cathay" the (1st Black Female Buffalo Soldier, 1866 - 1868, 38th Infantry, Company A). Date of Birth: November 4, 1844. Birth Place: Independence, MO. Died: Late 1892 - 1900. On, November 15, 1866 Cathy Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army. Cathy disguised herself as a MAN and assuming the name "William Cathay" became a "Buffalo Soldier" serving in one of the six black units formed in the Indian Wars. On, October 14, 1868 after being found out by the U.S. Army Surgeon and noted that this was a "Black Female Buffalo Soldier who had served two years in the military. Discharged at Fort Bayard, New Mexico on a surgeon's CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY. February 1892, the Pension Bureau rejected her disability for an invalid pension. Death: 1892s through 1900s Cathy Williams handicap, untreated diabetes and amputations of her toes she was in the final stages of the diseases and financial straits while awaiting for her pension - Denied.
4th: Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Harvey, U.S. Army (Retired). Date of Birth: March 1, 1920. Birth Place: Ford City, PA
Harvey enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 16, 1939 and served with distinction in both the Second World War and in Korea. He retired in 1962 after a career of almost twenty-three years. Harvey was highly decoration having been the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, three Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, ten Campaign Stars, the Croix de Guerre with Palm (from the government of France), and the Chung Mu Distinguished Service Medal (with Gold Star) from the govenment of South Korea. His finest moment came when, as Captain of Company C, 117th Infantry, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
5th: Sergeant Robert A. Richardson, U.S. Army Air Corporal. Date of Birth: October 16, 1929. Date of Death: August 5, 1986.
Robert was the youngest of eleven brothers and sisters and throughout his childhood he helped on the small family farm. Execept for a two year absence, October 19, 1943 to October 18, 1945, when Robert was fighting in the European Theater of Operations, he was a Lifetime resident of Arlington, AZ. Enlisted in the Air Corp, Richard was trained as a Tail Gunner, Side Gunner and Bombardier. On one of his many combat flights, as a Tail Gunner on aB-17, Richardson was critically wounded when his plane was attacked by enemy fighters. For his action, Richardson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Other awards included the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.
POC: Cmdr Fred Marable and Michelle London-Marable, Founders Cell: (480) 415-5439
Address: Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory
P.O. Box 20883
Mesa, AZ 85277-0883
Web sites:
http://www.buffalosoldiersaztrty.smugmug.com http://www.arizonabuffalosoldiersmesa.com http://www.mesabuffalosoldiersaztrty.com
Reserved all Copyrights.