Fort Caswell Rifle Range Web Page

Norma Eckard, Chair Commemorative Events asked who looked at the FT Caswell Rifle Range web page over the past month.  Last month she had asked us to find out information about three Brunswick County WWI African American veterans who served in the 92^nd Division and if the 92^nd Division was successful.  Today Norma told us about them.  William Frederick Brooks became ill and was unable to ship out.  He died of meningitis June 13, 1918. Robert Bolllie Stanley was listed MIA but the Red Cross found him on a POW list.  He was released November 27, 1918 with an amputated right leg.  He was discharged August 1919. William James Gordon was wounded and returned home after theMeuse-Argonne battle that ended the war.  He is the son of Franklin H. Gordon, known as the 1^st black educator in Brunswick County.  William and his father are buried in the John N. Smith Cemetery, Southport.  The French for their excellent skills in battle praised the 92nd Division. They were known as the Buffalo Soldiers in honor of African American troops who served in the American West after the Civil War.  Their insignia was the Buffalo Patch.  Norma asks members to read the Profiles of some of the 105^th Engineering Division, especially the diary available. Visit our website at http://www.caswellriflerange.com/