African American WWI Heroes Honored With Historic Marker

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- 100 years ago a group of brave Midlands soldiers crossed the Atlantic to fight in WWI. Thursday, those men were given their long-overdue recognition.

On a hidden plot of land on South Beltline Boulevard, dozens gathered to pay tribute to a group of unsung heroes.

“They were the first Blacks to go overseas and experience a world war, being exposed to mustard gas. Lord knows, they came back home sick and many of them died without receiving their pension. They didn’t know,” said Sonya R. Grantham, granddaughter of regiment member Sancho Thompson.

On top of being the first Black infantry group at was then Camp Jackson, the regiment was also the only black infantry to be drafted from the south, going overseas to France to fight in WWI.

“What we’re talking about is a group of individuals trained at Fort Jackson, in U.S. Tactics, U.S. Orders, U.S formations, U.S. Weapons who ended up in France fighting with the french under french tactics, french orders, french formations, with french weapons. Holy cow, holy cow,” said State Archaeologist John Leader.

Now honored with a historical marker in the same cemetery where some of the soldiers are buried, community members hope their story will live on forever.

“Something like this is historic and we’re hoping that each and every year, you here will tell the story, pass it on to the next generation and keep this going so people that are here today will never forget what’s out here as well,” said Lieutenant Curtis Wilson of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Leaders hope the ceremony inspires people to learn more about our state’s little known history and to work hard to preserve it.