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Good point. I always try to watch a few of the classic war movies in tribute. I've never served and I haven't lost any close family members but I did lose a few friends from my younger days in Nam. I like to take a few seconds to remember their sacrifice.
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It's almost as if all his overconfident, absolutist assertions were spoonfed to him by a trusted website or subreddit. Sheeple
RIP Tony Bogey & Baron O -
Sloww, I think it's invidious to single any fallen soldier out for particular attention, usually- but this is a Texan you may not have heard of. He was, I believe, the first African American to command white troops in battle :
Oliver Law
Oliver is another interesting character from the Spanish Civil War as he was the first African American combat military commander (I’m sure there will be someone who will dispute this) but also because like Robert Merriman there are various tales of his abilities and even how he met his death.
Born in Texas in 1899 he served as a young man in the US Army during WW1 (24th Infantry – rising to corporal – the maximum rank that could be achieved by a Negro). Post war he had several jobs and moved to Chicago.
By 1930 he was a member of the communist party and very active in fighting the unemployment of the Great Depression. Other activists in Chicago included Steve Nelson and Joe Dallet both strong figures in the Spanish Civil war on the side of the Republic. He also became involved in the anti-fascist demonstrations against Mussolini and the invasion of Ethiopia. He married Corrine Lightfoot the sister of a fellow Chicago communist Claude Lightfoot.
In 1936 he volunteered to fight in Spain and joined the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, making his way to Albacete in early 1937 where the International Brigade was forming.
During Feb 1937 he took part in the battle for Jarama and did so well he was quickly promoted to company commander and then later to battalion commander. In July he was killed in battle at Brunette.
His grave post read – ‘Oliver Law, the first negro to command American white soldiers’.
Vive la liberte. Noor Inayat Khan, Dachau.
...patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone. Edith Cavell, 1915Comment
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No, I wasn't familiar with the man. Thanks for an interesting read.Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.
"Hating America is something best left to Mobius. He is an expert Yank hater.
He also hates Texans and Australians, he does diversify." ~ BraindeadComment
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