Lewis Broadus
American Buffalo Soldier (1877–1961) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Captain Lewis Cunningham Broadus (1877–1961) was a Buffalo Soldier born in Henrico County, Virginia, who served his country with distinction in the 25th Infantry Regiment and the 92nd Division of the United States Army. He served from 1897 to 1923, and was a combat veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and World War I.
Captain Lewis Broadus | |
---|---|
Birth name | Louis Cunningham |
Nickname(s) | "Cap" |
Born | (1877-07-24)July 24, 1877 Henrico County, Virginia, U.S. |
Died | June 23, 1961(1961-06-23) (aged 83) Jamaica, Queens, U.S. |
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1897–1923 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 25th Infantry Regiment 92nd Division |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Distinguished Service Cross |
Spouse(s) |
Florence Blackwood (m. 1897)Edith McClenny (m. 1931) |
Other work | Special Officer, Mount Vernon PD Alcohol Tax Division, New York City |
He began his military career as a Private in Company D, 25th Infantry Regiment. Over the course of many military campaigns and special assignments, Lewis rose to the ranks of regimental-Sergeant Major, and Ordnance Sergeant. With the United States' entry into World War I, and after many petitions and commendations, he attended officer training with the 17th Provisional Training Regiment at Fort Des Moines in 1917. He successfully commissioned as a Captain, one of 639 newly commissioned African-American line-officers, at a time where only three existed previously.[1]
Lewis was awarded a Certificate of Merit for "coolness, presence of mind, and bravery in saving lives of others at Fort Niobrara,"[2][3] by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. After the Certificate of Merit Medal was declared obsolete in 1918, his medal was first exchanged for the newly established Distinguished Service Medal, and, after a change in award regulations by Congress in 1934, converted into the Distinguished Service Cross.[4]