Colonel Charles Young graduated from West Point in the class of 1889, the third African-American to do so. This book, Brian Shellum's second about Young (the first was Black Cadet in a White Bastion), traces his life from commissioning to his his death in 1922.
The various assignments Col. Young held during his career show his talents as well as his devotion to his profession. He started off as a lieutenant in an all-black "Buffalo Regiment" (though most officers were white). As he progressed, he served as an ROTC professor at Wilberforce University in Ohio, deployed to the Philippines twice, and became the first black military attaché (to both nations on Hispaniola).
In addition, he led his troop in park ranger duty at the Sequoia National Forest (in the days before the Interior Department), and preceded the presidential carriage in Theodore Roosevelt's May 1903 parade in San Francisco. [Video. Then-Capt. Young is visible leading the troop at the 0:30 mark.] Young also participated in the Punitive Expedition into Mexico in 1916.
At this point, despite having been medically fit enough to serve in Mexico, Young was medically retired rather than given a promotion and permitted service in World War I. Although, despite appeal, the War Department felt he was apparently not healthy enough to be a general, he was well enough to return to service as attaché to Liberia.
Sadly, it was during this last assignment that Young died of chronic nephritis (a kidney problem) at the age of 58.
From the book, a few things about Col. Young stand out. First, like contemporaries Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, he was interesting in promoting opportunities for black Americans. However, he was always careful to "stay on his own side of the fence" with regard to his social life. He attended professional functions as an equal and made courtesy calls as any military officer should, but would leave events early out of respect for others' sensitivities. And while the Army struggled to find "suitable" assignments for a black officer, Young accepted his lot, understanding the Army did not want him in command over whites.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful gestures in his life was when San Fransisco couple Philip and Blanche Winster extended an invitation. Initially hesitant, Young declined, but as Philip later wrote, "we told him, for us there is no fence, and after ... began a friendship with a rare an cultured soul, which lasted 'til his death."
Second, teaching and mentoring were very important to him. He had been a teacher as a teenager before his appointment to West Point, and continued to mentor young men both at Wilberforce and in the Ninth Cavalry. He enouraged enlisted men to become officers and won the respect of even his white subordinate officers.
Third,Young pursued excellence in every single thing he did. As a lieutenant in 1894, he developed a "lyceum," (what the Army today would call an "Officer Professional Development") a fifteen-page, typed paper entitled "Battle Exercises and Practical Schemes in Minor Tactics Using Ground in Vicinity of Fort Duchesne, Utah." (I think everything had long titles back then). In it, he is "projecting forward to the day when he might lead his troops into combat in a setting far different from that at Fort Duchesne, and sees the need for sensible training."
I imagine Young sitting down at a typewriter (a new invention back then) and developing a product for his fellow in the same way I come up with presentations using PowerPoint, and see a kindred spirit concerned with the professionalism of his compatriots.
Unfortunately, his eagerness to serve meant that he could not accept being retired, and returned to service in a part of the world that contributed to his death. And though he planned to take a stretch of leave while in Liberia, his untimely passing came after not having seen his family for a very long time.
History is redicovering Col. Young. Forgotten during the nadir in race relations in the early 20th Century, he is finally getting his due -- in March, President Obama established the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument at his home in Wilberforce, Ohio. Though advocacy of freedmen waned following his graduation (47 years passed before Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. graduated in 1936), Young has stood a testament to the capabilities of even the most disadvantaged.
Young had his opinions, but they never detracted from his dedication to his profession. It is a shame the Army could not have more fully utilized his skills, but Young seems to have understood why:
"Perhaps the foolish fear of taking the initiative robs the military profession of many good and valuable things." - Charles Young, 1900.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Black Officer in a Buffalo Soldier Regiment
Colonel Charles Young graduated from West Point in the class of 1889, the third African-American to do so. This book, Brian Shellum's second about Young (the first was Black Cadet in a White Bastion), traces his life from commissioning to his his death in 1922.
The various assignments Col. Young held during his career show his talents as well as his devotion to his profession. He started off as a lieutenant in an all-black "Buffalo Regiment" (though most officers were white). As he progressed, he served as an ROTC professor at Wilberforce University in Ohio, deployed to the Philippines twice, and became the first black military attaché (to both nations on Hispaniola).
In addition, he led his troop in park ranger duty at the Sequoia National Forest (in the days before the Interior Department), and preceded the presidential carriage in Theodore Roosevelt's May 1903 parade in San Francisco. [Video. Then-Capt. Young is visible leading the troop at the 0:30 mark.] Young also participated in the Punitive Expedition into Mexico in 1916.
At this point, despite having been medically fit enough to serve in Mexico, Young was medically retired rather than given a promotion and permitted service in World War I. Although, despite appeal, the War Department felt he was apparently not healthy enough to be a general, he was well enough to return to service as attaché to Liberia.
Sadly, it was during this last assignment that Young died of chronic nephritis (a kidney problem) at the age of 58.
From the book, a few things about Col. Young stand out. First, like contemporaries Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, he was interesting in promoting opportunities for black Americans. However, he was always careful to "stay on his own side of the fence" with regard to his social life. He attended professional functions as an equal and made courtesy calls as any military officer should, but would leave events early out of respect for others' sensitivities. And while the Army struggled to find "suitable" assignments for a black officer, Young accepted his lot, understanding the Army did not want him in command over whites.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful gestures in his life was when San Fransisco couple Philip and Blanche Winster extended an invitation. Initially hesitant, Young declined, but as Philip later wrote, "we told him, for us there is no fence, and after ... began a friendship with a rare an cultured soul, which lasted 'til his death."
Second, teaching and mentoring were very important to him. He had been a teacher as a teenager before his appointment to West Point, and continued to mentor young men both at Wilberforce and in the Ninth Cavalry. He enouraged enlisted men to become officers and won the respect of even his white subordinate officers.
Third,Young pursued excellence in every single thing he did. As a lieutenant in 1894, he developed a "lyceum," (what the Army today would call an "Officer Professional Development") a fifteen-page, typed paper entitled "Battle Exercises and Practical Schemes in Minor Tactics Using Ground in Vicinity of Fort Duchesne, Utah." (I think everything had long titles back then). In it, he is "projecting forward to the day when he might lead his troops into combat in a setting far different from that at Fort Duchesne, and sees the need for sensible training."
I imagine Young sitting down at a typewriter (a new invention back then) and developing a product for his fellow in the same way I come up with presentations using PowerPoint, and see a kindred spirit concerned with the professionalism of his compatriots.
Unfortunately, his eagerness to serve meant that he could not accept being retired, and returned to service in a part of the world that contributed to his death. And though he planned to take a stretch of leave while in Liberia, his untimely passing came after not having seen his family for a very long time.
History is redicovering Col. Young. Forgotten during the nadir in race relations in the early 20th Century, he is finally getting his due -- in March, President Obama established the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument at his home in Wilberforce, Ohio. Though advocacy of freedmen waned following his graduation (47 years passed before Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. graduated in 1936), Young has stood a testament to the capabilities of even the most disadvantaged.
Young had his opinions, but they never detracted from his dedication to his profession. It is a shame the Army could not have more fully utilized his skills, but Young seems to have understood why:
"Perhaps the foolish fear of taking the initiative robs the military profession of many good and valuable things." - Charles Young, 1900.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment