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Page 2A - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 Four men who gave the ultimate sacrifice honored SUBMITTED PHOTO Four black soldiers from Pike County who gave the ultimate sacrifice during World War I were honored by members of the American Legion Post 197 and the Pike County NAACP. Their stories of service were shared aloud and displayed in a shadow box that will remain on display at the Pike Memorial Annex building. Four men who gave the ultimate sacrifice were honored as they were inducted into the Pike County Memorial Annex. The men honored included WW1 heroes Pri vate William Bankston of the Molena area, Private Green Blackman of the Meansville area, Private John McLendon and Private Ben Scott of the Concord area. “Post 197 has started an annual Pike County tradition of honoring those from Pike County who have given the ultimate sacrifice with the goal of honoring every name listed on the Pike County Veteran’s Memorial and every first responder of Pike County who died in the line of duty. The Memorial An nex has 25 inductees me morialized to date,” said American Legion Post 197 commander Bryan Richardson. “When World War 1 started, many African- Americans chose to prove their right to equality by serving their country. More than 700,000 blacks enlisted on the first day of the draft on June 5, 1917. More than 350,000 African- Americans served during World War I. Roughly, 200,000 black troops were shipped overseas. Many white commanders believed black soldiers would perform poorly un der fire. African American troops were organized into segregated units, mostly led by white offi cers. By the time America entered the war in 1917, West Point had graduated only three black officers. African Americans were primarily shut out of op portunities to become of ficers in the military. The military also limited black enlistments, fearing racial issues would harm the war effort even though African-American soldiers had fought in every major U.S. war since the 1700s.” Under French com mand, black troops expe rienced far less racism. They were given combat assignments like any other French unit, and they fought with cour age and skill. The most famous of these was the 369th Infantry Regi ment. Although it was also known for its famed regimental band, which brought jazz to Europe, it was first and foremost a fighting unit. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive at the end of the war, the 92nd Division joined the fighting, serving under U.S. command. Unlike the men of the 93rd Division, which gained fame and honors fighting under the French command, the African Americans in the 92nd Division faced fierce racial prejudice from their white commanders as they struggled to fulfill assignments, and had to work tirelessly to clear their reputations. Un fortunately, the service of black Americans had little impact on racism in the United States. Many African-American veter ans faced discrimination and violence, despite their service. “They were basically fighting two wars,” said Jack Lufkin of the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center. “They were fighting the Germans in World War 1 and were also fighting segregation and racism in their own country.” In spite of the strug gles and racial issues they experienced, the officers from the Fort Des Moines training camp laid the groundwork for change in the U.S. mili tary over the next sev eral decades, culminating with President Harry Truman’s executive order issued in July of 1948 that abolished racial dis crimination and formally ended segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces. “The military did lead the way in equality for African Americans, although there were still many incidences of racism within our armed forces, and unfortunately, even today,” said Rich ardson. Black soldiers from Pike honored for their service in World War I William E. Bankston William Early Bankston was born in Molena on Dec. 15, 1895 to Patience Martha Gardner and Reuben Farmer Bankston as the first of three children. His mother died when he was three. The family lived in Lifsey Springs and Concord. When he was 18 years old, his father died in 1913. In 1917, William was work ing as a carpenter living in Griffin and he enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 14, 1917 at Fort Thomas, Ken tucky - eight days after the U.S. entered WW1. He and the 18th Infantry Regiment M Company de parted on the USS Mount Vernon from Hoboken, New Jersey on Oct. 29, 1917 and arrived at Brest, France on Oct. 31, 1917. By April 1918, the German Army had pushed to within 40 miles of Paris. In reaction to this thrust, the Division moved into the Picardy Sector to help relieve the exhausted French First Army. On May 22, the Battalion was moved to the Cantigny Sector three miles west of Montdidier and was placed as a reserve unit. From July 15 to 17, the German army attacked the allied forces to try to cross the Marne River and push towards Paris. Thanks to American army efforts, the German right wing failed to take any land across the Marne. In order to attack and force the German re treat, the allies planned on attacking the entire Marne salient. On July 15, Bankston and the Division moved ap proximately 28 miles to the woods of Foret de Comp- iegne about 18 miles west of Soissons in preparation to relieve the 1st Moroccan Division. At 8 a.m. on July 16, the Battalion arrived in the woods. Here the Divi sion bivouacked on July 16, and spent the entire day under cover of the woods to avoid detection by Ger man aircraft. During the night of July 17, the Division relieved the 1st Moroccan Division on a 1.5 mile front. At 9 p.m. that day, the Battalion marched 7 miles mov ing eastward and arrived at a trench line near Cutry, its jump-off point at 3 a.m. for an attack at 4 a.m. On the morning of July 18, the Aisne-Marne Cam paign began. The Battle of Soissons was the name of the counterattack of the allied forces during the Sec ond Battle of the Marne, the last major offense that the German army attempted during WW1. The victory was costly; more than 700 men were killed or wound ed. It is believed that sometime on July 18, Private Bankston was severely wounded in action during the battle. He died of his wounds on July 21, 1918. Private Bankston’s awards and decorations for combat include the Purple Heart Medal, posthu mously for wounds in action and subsequent death, the World War 1 Victory Medal with Defensive Sector (Montdidier-Noyon) Clasp and Aisne-Marne Battle Clasp representing each of the two campaigns par ticipated and the French Croix de Guerre with palm for his unit whose soldiers distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy dur ing the Aisne-Marne Campaign. Initially, Private Bankston was buried more than likely at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France. On April 11, 1921, his remains arrived in the United States and he was put to rest at the Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Lifsey Springs, Georgia. Green Blackman Green Blackman was born Nov. 4, 1896 in the Military District 540, Milner, Georgia to Canvars and Green Blackman as the youngest of several children. In 1900, the family was living in Barnesville. In 1910, at the age of 13, he was living with his broth- er-in-law and older sister Nettie Hunter in Meansville. He worked for M.L. Middlebrooks in Zebu- Ion. On June 5, 1918, he regis tered for the draft. Shortly after, he married Annie Mae Mangham and they lived on Barnesville Street in Zebulon, Georgia. When the United States be came involved in World War I on April 6, 1917, more than a million African Americans registered to serve. Over 350,000 served during the War. They served in the Infantry, Cavalry, Engineer Corps, Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, Signal Corps, Medical Corps, Hospital and Ambulance Corps, Aviation Corps, Veteri nary Corps, and Depot Brigades. In all, 3,600 African American recruits from Georgia were sent to Camp Gordon in Chamblee. Camp Gordon was a World War I encampment built in early 1917 on land that now includes DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. Segre gation and discrimination made life difficult for the African Ameri cans at Camp Gordon as well as other World War I camps. Private Blackman was as signed to the 14th Company, 4th Training Battalion of the U.S. Army’s 157th Depot Brigade for basic training at Camp Gordon. The role of the 157th Depot Brigades was to receive and organize recruits, provide them with uniforms, equipment and initial military training, and then send them to France to fight on the front lines. During the latter part of his basic training, Private Blackman contracted Lobar- Pneumonia and died on Nov. 5, 1918. Blackman turned 22 the day before his death. It is un known where Green Blackman is buried. He is probably buried in a family plot within current Pike or Lamar counties. John G. McLendon John Green McLendon was born on May 26, 1893 to Julia and Peter McLendon as the third of four children. He was raised in and around the Concord area. In 1910, the family lived on a farm on Hollisterville Road, Concord. John worked on the family farm and when he signed up for the mili tary draft on June 5, 1917, he was working at the Buchanan’s Saw Mill in Woodbury, Georgia. He was sent to the entrainment camp at Camp Wheeler near Macon and on Aug. 5, Private McLendon was assigned to the 25th Company at the Reception Camp at Camp Wheeler, Georgia for basic training. The War Department used the site area of Camp Wheeler, Macon Georgia as a mo bilization center from 1917 to 1918. One of 16 U.S. Army national guard mobilization and training camps, it was established on July 18, 1917 as a temporary training camp for national guard units in federal service for the U.S. Army. The camp consisted primarily of tents in a cantonment area. On Aug. 30, 1918, Private McLendon was assigned to E Company, 403rd Re serve Labor Battalion at Camp Wheeler. The labor battalion provided labor sup port to the reception, mobilization, and training camp. Although technically eli gible for many positions in the Army, very few blacks got the opportunity to serve in combat units. Most were limited to labor battalions. On Sept. 3, Private McLendon was sent to the Quartermaster’s Depot in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania and assigned to A Company, 425th Reserve Labor Battalion. The U.S. Army Quarter master Department established a depot on 851 acres of land in rural New Cumber land which was based on its proximity to the Susquehanna River and Pennsylvania Railroad. The depot was used as a storage and distribution point for a wide variety of supplies to and from Europe during WWI. It was one of 12 centers around the country. While in New Cumberland, Private McLendon developed gall stones which caused an abscess in his liver which consequently caused his death on Oct. 13 1918. Private McLendon is entitled to the WWI Victory Medal for service during World War I. It is unknown where John McLendon is buried. It is possible that he is buried in or around New Cumberland which includes the Gettysburg National Cemetery. He could also be buried somewhere in the Concord area. Ben L. Scott Ben Lee Scott was born on March 8, 1897 in Senoia, Georgia. His father was Jim Scott. As an adolescent, Ben worked with his father. On June 5, 1918, he registered for the draft. On Dec. 23, 1917, he married Fannie Mae Wellmaker and they lived in Concord. Private Scott was assigned to 14th Company, 4th Training Battalion, 157th Depot Brigade for basic training at Camp Gor don. The role of the Depot Brigades was to receive and orga nize recruits, provide them with uniforms, equipment and initial military training, and quickly send them to service units in France. Private Scott spent a week with the 157th Depot Brigade and then on Aug. 29, 1918 was assigned to A Company, 539th Engi neer Service Battalion. Scott and A Company boarded the HMAS (His Majesty’s Austra lian Ship) Karmala at Hoboken, New Jersey and set sail on Sept. 3, 1918 for France. The 539th Engineer Service Battalion’s mission was to repair roads throughout France. Shortly after arriving in France, Private Scott contracted Brocho- Pneumonia and died on 3 October 1918. Private Scott’s decora tions include the WWI Victory Medal for his participation in France during the war. It is unknown where Ben Scott is buried. He is probably buried in a family plot in the Concord area. Don’t Miss A Week! 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