Last surviving Buffalo Soldier from SC dies at 92

[mfcorey1]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Funeral arrangements for the last surviving Buffalo Soldier from South Carolina are set to take place on July 1.
Taft Henry, 92, died on June 26 at his home in Winnsboro. He served in World War II and was a Buffalo Soldier of the 24th Infantry Regiment.

Henry entered the military on June 30, 1946 and served until Sept. 30, 1968.
His commendations include Combat Infantry Badge, World War II, Korean Medals and Letter of Appreciation from the South Korea Army Chief for the sacrificial service in defense of South Korea.

https://www.wbtv.com/2020/07/01/last-surviving-buffalo-soldier-sc-dies/

[keithbvadu2]

1. "Henry entered the military on June 30, 1946" - 'served in World War II"

???

[Skittles]

2. I noticed that, too

if he was 92 that means he was born in 1928 - if he served in WWII he must have been.....really young

[Hortensis]

5. Umhm. Possible tho, 17/18 in 1946. Truman integrated

the military in 1948, but their black regiment wasn't disbanded until 1951.

I read a book on the Buffalo Soldiers some time ago. Less attention may be better in this era of statue toppling. There are a few to those of earlier eras.

What people passing now have seen over their lives. RIP, Mr. Henry. Hope he died hopeful for the future.

[gladium et scutum]

3. Some of the Medals he was awarded

were considered WWII medals. He probably had the German Occupation Medal and possibly the American Campaign Medal, both of these were awarded in 1946.

[sarge43]

4. That whole article is odd.

No rank mentioned.

With 22 years in, he had more medals than just a couple of in-country ribbons. "served in World War II" I think the writer is getting that from the WWII Victory Medal. That one was handed out for service from 7Dec41 thru 31Dec46. He would have had two National Defense Service Medals and, if enlisted, a stack of Good Conduct Medals. He should have had at least one "promotion point" like the Commendation Medal.

[captain queeg]

6. Well obviously didn't serve in WWII

There are fewer and fewer survivors of that war alive. I had an uncle in the army air corps just died a few years ago. He was in his 90s. But he was already in the service at the time of Pearl Harbor. I think he said he was 24 at that time, so compared to many that joined up he was an oldster. He didn’t really see combat per se. spent most of the war on B-24s flying from Brazil to Africa and some time flying over the hump, which I guess would be the Burma area. He was hospitalized a couple times and was in a hospital that was bombed by the Japanese. But his lucky break came early on. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force on his way to England and got sick in Iceland and spent a couple weeks in the hospital and ended up reassigned. Lucky break for him. Being in the 8th at that time was about as bad as being in a U-boat.