Buffalo Soldier Burial at National Cemetery

Lieutenant William Henry Waddell, IV, VMD lived from 9 August, 1908 to 30 January, 2007. He was a veterinarian, entrepreneur, leader, husband, father, researcher, student, traveler, and resident of Kaa'awa on the eastern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. But to many of us, he was only known as an Original 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier whom at the age of 98 was also the LAST of the Oldest Living Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers since First Sergeant Mark Mathews of the 10th Cavalry who at the age of 111 lived until September 13, 2005. As a First Lieutenant with the U.S. Army's 9th Cavalry, 5th Brigade during World War II, Waddell served in Africa and Italy in 1943 and 1944 as the brigade's veterinarian of 10,000 horses as well as many mules. In 1944, Lieutenant Waddell's supply mule was shot by German forces. The impact knocked him off his mount and the enemy continued shooting at him causing him to suffer a wound to his neck. He spent 90 days in a field hospital in North Africa before returning to active duty with his troops. Lieutenant Waddell's 9th Cavalry was inactivated on 7 March 1944 in North Africa. The 10th Cavalry was also deactivated in 1944 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. By the time Waddell retired in 1972, he had earned 135 Service Medals. Dr. Waddell's wife, Lottie Young Waddell died in 1989. From then on, he resided with his daughter, Dr. Kathryn Waddell Takara and accepted invitations to give talks on his adventures and remained very lucid up until the time of his expiration. Dr. Waddell had previously been assigned an Active Duty Army aide-de-camp by the United States Army and participated annually in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parades in Honolulu. He was buried at the National Cemetery of the Pacific.

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[ICARUSSPLAT]

...A job they did on the orders of a white government conveyed thru white officers who would've had them shot! A soldier doesn't play politics, he obeys orders. That's why you can sit here 100+ yrs later and 2nd guess shit. The reality of battle is this: when the first shot is fired in your direction you stop fighting for your country and start fighting for yourself. They served to prove their loyalty and their worth and blazed a trail both for settlers & generations to follow.

[poshportia62]

How do you keep a people down? You 'never' let them 'know' their history.

The 7th Cavalry got their butts in a sling again after the Little Big Horn Massacre, fourteen years later, the day after the Wounded Knee Massacre. If it wasn't for the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, there would of been a second massacre of the 7th Cavalry. Read, and visit site/great history, rescue at pine ridge. com

[suthnbikerman47]

I had the honor in riding with several Buffalo Soldiers in the course of a memorial ride for a fallen soldier. Nothing but respect for these guy's. I hope I am given the privilege to do so again. MUCH respect from "Pa-Poe".

[rwilliamsou812]

@meetman3 Sorry, they were protectors of white settlements. It was the white soldiers who the american indians will remember as murderers, rapists, and phelophiles... We teach our children proper history so they will know how to single out the liars!

[poshportia62]

The 7th Cavalry got their butts in a sling again after Little Big Horn, fourteen years later, the day after the Wounded Knee Massacre. If it wasn't for the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, there would of been a second massacre of the 7th. Rescue at Pine Ridge. com.

[ICARUSSPLAT]

In 1866 these former slaves had no homes, no jobs, no prospects and nobody wanted them North or South. In the army they found work, training and a small measure of respect for the 1st time in their lives. They didn't choose to fight the indians, most never wanted to join the army. But there was nothing for them outside of it! Outside of combat they dealt with them fairly. You can only stand up for your principles on a full stomach.

[balah1310]

they were just doing the white mans dirty work in order to get thier freedom

[PeacefullNative]

exactly well put

[LIONONTWOLEGS]

buffalo soldiers were the biggest damn uncle toms in the history of the world

[cjcreativemarketing]

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