A Video Tribute to the First Cavalry Division and a Saucy Pin up! Enjoy! |
Friday, February 25, 2011
For My Grandfather: Cotton Soldiers
I decided to take a break from books, the paranormal, and reviews in order to honor my grandfather, CSM (Ret) A.C. Cotton for Black History Month. I wrote my Master's thesis on him because he rocks and made History when he became the first (and only) black command sergeant major of the First Cavalry Division. I'm turning that thesis into a book (a slow process) but here is a poem I wrote in honor of him a few years ago.
Labels:
1st cav,
a.c. cotton,
black history month,
poetry,
video tribute
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3 comments:
Wow. What a powerful sentiment for your grandfather. The Buffalo Soldiers really did face a lot of horrifying social issues - trials that just seem so unthinkable to me. Then again, my own great-grandfather was murdered for the cash he carried (they found his body in the river) and because his wife could not feed their children, my grandmother was "farmed out" as a very young girl and she worked hard for a very cruel woman raising her children and keeping house.
These stories of struggle and victory over huge obstacles speak to all of us ... no matter what race, religion or gender we might belong to. Cruelty has been the bane of human existence for far too long and it crosses all demographics. (I'm ready for Nirvana to happen, myself - ready for the gap between rich and poor to be erased.)
HEY -- I'm giving your blog a personalized award. To pick up your comic (the award) please see my Vampire Review blog. Instructions are there ... it's actually quite fun to participate so I hope you collect.
There can never be enough history research, and there are so many stories that still need to be told. I hope you get CSM A.C.Cotton's story right.
Besides your tribute, I loved that video, too.
He was a remarkable man, a wonderful soldier, an awesome leader, a fair person, an excellent communicator...he was my friend, my mentor, my Command Sergeant Major, and I respected, and loved him enormously. May God rest his soul, and it was my privilege, my honor to spend 2 years with him every single day as his administrator. GARY OWEN COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR COTTON.
HE DID BECOME A CORPS COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR, but then Major General John Yeosock asked him to turn it down for him, and stay with the First Cavalry Division. THIS IS NOT HEARSAY, I WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED...
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